SLAUGHTER☆SQUAD

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<span style="grid-column: 1; grid-row:2;"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-backward" title="Back"></i>'>><<run Engine.backward();>><</link>></span> <span style="grid-column: 2; grid-row:2;">SLAUGHTER☆SQUAD</span> <span class="author">by <a href="https://harlequinoccult.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Prince Lapin</a></span> <span style="grid-column: 3; grid-row:2;"><<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-forward" title="Forward"></i>'>><<run Engine.forward();>><</link>> </span>

<<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-backward" title="Back"></i>'>> <<run Engine.backward()>> <</link>> <<link '<i class="fa-solid fa-forward" title="Forward"></i>'>> <<run Engine.forward()>> <</link>>

<style> h1 {text-align:center;color:red;text-shadow: 2px 2px 5px black;} </style> <div id="titleCont">''<<include "Title">>'' <div id="splashLinks"> <<button "Start" "1">><</button>> <<if (Save.browser.auto.isEnabled() and Save.browser.auto.has()) or (Config.saves.maxSlotSaves gte 1)>> <<button "Load">><<script>>UI.saves()<</script>><</button>><</if>> <<button "Settings">><<run UI.settings()>><</button>> <<button "Credits">> <<run Dialog.create("Credits").wikiPassage("Credits").open();>> <</button>> </div> </div>

/* define your story variables here */ /* Multipronouns Variables*/ <<set $prons to 0>> <<set $remove_pron to 0>> <<set $arr_they to []>> <<set $arr_them to []>> <<set $arr_their to []>> <<set $arr_theirs to []>> <<set $arr_themself to []>> <<set $arr_plural to []>> <<set $mc_they to "">> <<set $mc_them to "">> <<set $mc_their to "">> <<set $mc_theirs to "">> <<set $mc_themself to "">> <<set $mc_plural to false>> <<set $mc_is to "">> <<set $mc_was to "">> <<set $mc_s to "">> <<set $mc_theyre to "">> <<set $mc_has to "">> <<set $job to "???">> <<set $drive to "You're skilled at getaway driving">> <<set $clean to "You're skilled at disposing bodies">> <<set $bait to "You're skilled at being bait">> <<set $info to "You're skilled at gathering information">> <<set $all to "You're a Jack of All Trades when it comes to murder">> <<set $person to "???">> <<set $skin to "???">> <<set $eyes to "???">> <<set $face to "???">> <<set $hair to "???">> <<set $htext to "???">> <<set $they to "???">> <<set $firstname to "???">> <<set $lastname to "???">> <<set $alias to "???">> <<set $apa>> <<set $clean>> <<set $normal>> <<set $bad>> <<set $hc to "???">> <<set $hstyle to "???">> <<set $ring>> <<set $brace>> <<set $watch>> <<set $ear>> <<set $ebpier>> <<set $tpier>> <<set $npier>> <<set $lpier>> <<set $epier>> <<set $neck>> <<set $cho>> <<set $smoke to 0>> <<set $ODf to 0>> <<set $ODr to 0>> <<set $ODRr to 0>> <<set $BDf to 0>> <<set $BDr to 0>> <<set $BDRr to 0>> <<set $ELYf to 0>> <<set $ELYr to 0>> <<set $ELYRr to 0>> <<set $SWf to 0>> <<set $SWr to 0>> <<set $SWRr to 0>> <<set $CLDf to 0>> <<set $CLDr to 0>> <<set $CLDRr to 0>> <<set $THf to 1>> <<set $THr to 1>> <<set $THRr to 1>> <<set $AO to 0>> <<set $OD to "You haven't met this person.">> <<set $BD to "You haven't met this person.">> <<set $ELY to "You haven't met this person.">> <<set $SW to "You haven't met this person.">> <<set $CLD to "You haven't met this person.">> <<set $TH to "They've taken an interest in you.">> <<set $CarterRel to "???">> <<set $CUnc to "You have the misfortune of being related to Carter">> <<set $CDebt to "Carter provided a way out of your debt. You work for him, and he pays you.">> <<set $CFriend to "You and Carter were friends once. Now? Well....">> <<set $CMail to "Carter has dirt on you. You're helping him to keep him quiet about it.">> <<set $CDead to "Nothing but a red smear on the ground.">> <<set $twoone to 0>> <<set $THG>> <<set $ODG>> <<set $AG>> <<set $over>> <<set $under>> <<set $pants>> <<set $shoes>> <<set $iden to false>> <<set $mask to "???">> <<set $weapon to "???">> <<set $asshole to 0>> <<set $PIscore to 0>> <<set $numb>> <<set $height>> <<set $mcsign to false>> <<set $achieve001 to false>> <<set $achieve002 to false>> <<set $achieve003 to false>> <<set $achieve004 to false>> <<set $achieve005 to false>> <<set $achieve006 to false>> <<set $achieve007 to false>> <<set $achieve008 to false>> <<set $achieve009 to false>> <<set $achieve010 to false>> <<set $achieve011 to false>> <<set $achieve012 to false>> <<set $achieve013 to false>> <<set $ODnick to "???">> <<set $ODNa to "???">> <<set $memento to "???">> <<set $mring to "a cracked, tarnished ring">> <<set $mbracelet to "a frayed woven bracelet">> <<set $mkeychain to "a rusted keychain">> <<set $mlocket to "a broken locket">> <<set $mcA>> <<set $mcB>> <<set $mcC>> <<set $mcD>> <<set $guilt to 0>>

// LOCATION  <<widget "loc" container>> <div class="loc"> _contents </div> <</widget>> // CHARACTER  <<widget "char" container>> <div class="unit"> <div class="char"> _args[0] </div> _contents </div> <</widget>> // WRYLY  <<widget "wry" container>> <div class="wry"> (_contents) </div> <</widget>> // DIALOGUE  <<widget "dia" container>> <div class="dia"> _contents </div> <</widget>> // TRANSITION  <<widget "trans" container>> <div class="trans"> <p>_contents</p> </div> <</widget>> // ACTION  <<widget "act" container>> <div class="act"> _contents </div> <</widget>> /* custom widgets go in here */ <<widget "are">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>are<<case false>>is<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "were">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>were<<case false>>was<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "s">><<switch $plural>><<case true>><<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "es">><<switch $plural>><<case true>><<case false>>es<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "re">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>re<<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "ve">><<switch $plural>><<case true>>ve<<case false>>s<</switch>><</widget>> <<widget "m_they">><<if $THG eq "male">>he<<elseif $THG eq "female">>she<<else>>they<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "m_theyre">><<if $THG eq "male">>he's<<elseif $THG eq "female">>she's<<else>>they're<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "m_them">><<if $THG eq "male">>him<<elseif $THG eq "female">>her<<else>>them<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "m_their">><<if $THG eq "male">>his<<elseif $THG eq "female">>her<<else>>their<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "m_theirs">><<if $THG eq "male">>his<<elseif $THG eq "female">>hers<<else>>theirs<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "m_themself">><<if $THG eq "male">>himself<<elseif $THG eq "female">>herself<<else>>themself<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "m_mx">><<if $THG eq "male">>Mr.<<elseif $THG eq "female">>Ms.<<else>>Mx.<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "od_they">><<if $ODG eq "male">>he<<elseif $ODG eq "female">>she<<elseif $ODG eq "enby">>they<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "od_theyre">><<if $ODG eq "male">>he's<<elseif $ODG eq "female">>she's<<elseif $ODG eq "enby">>they're<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "od_them">><<if $ODG eq "male">>him<<elseif $ODG eq "female">>her<<elseif $ODG eq "enby">>them<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "od_their">><<if $ODG eq "male">>his<<elseif $ODG eq "female">>her<<elseif $ODG eq "enby">>their<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "od_theirs">><<if $ODG eq "male">>his<<elseif $ODG eq "female">>hers<<elseif $ODG eq "enby">>theirs<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "od_themself">><<if $ODG eq "male">>himself<<elseif $ODG eq "female">>herself<<elseif $ODG eq "enby">>themself<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "od_mx">><<if $ODG eq "male">>Mr.<<elseif $ODG eq "female">>Ms.<<elseif $ODG eq "enby">>Mx.<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "a_they">><<if $AG eq "male">>he<<elseif $AG eq "female">>she<<else>>they<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "a_theyre">><<if $AG eq "male">>he's<<elseif $AG eq "female">>she's<<else>>they're<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "a_them">><<if $AG eq "male">>him<<elseif $AG eq "female">>her<<else>>them<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "a_their">><<if $AG eq "male">>his<<elseif $AG eq "female">>her<<else>>their<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "a_theirs">><<if $AG eq "male">>his<<elseif $AG eq "female">>hers<<else>>theirs<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "a_themself">><<if $AG eq "male">>himself<<elseif $AG eq "female">>herself<<else>>themself<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "a_mx">><<if $AG eq "male">>Mr.<<elseif $AG eq "female">>Ms.<<else>>Mx.<</if>><</widget>> <<widget "a_name">><<if $AG eq "male">>Adrian<<elseif $AG eq "female">>Aurora<</if>><</widget>>

!Who you are <center><h2>$firstname "$alias" $lastname</h2></center> ---- <center>You're a very tired 20 to 30 year old $person. You go by $arr_they. Your skin is a healthy $skin tone, your eyes are a striking $eyes, your hair is $htext, $hc, and $hair- that you tend to keep $hstyle</center> ---- <center> $job <<if $iden == false>> <<else>> You've donned a $mask on your head and you wield $weapon You're wearing a $over over a $under with $pants underneath, and a pair of $shoes <</if>> <span class="next"><<button "Change Pronouns" "change">><</button>></span> </center>

!!Known Associates <<button "Carter 'Dollface' Abernathy" "carter">><</button>> <<button "Overdose" "OD">><</button>> <<button "Black Dahlia" "BD">><</button>> <<button "Elysium" "ELY">><</button>> <<button "Cold" "CLD">><</button>> <<button "Sweetheart" "SW">><</button>> <<button "The Host" "TH">><</button>> <<button "Return" $return>><</button>>

<ul> <li> Sugarcube Screenplay UI Template & Screenplay Formatting Widgets by <a href="https://lapinlunaire-games.neocities.org">Lapin Lunaire Games</a>. </li> <hr>  <li> Add more credits here wrapped in {{{<li>}}} tags (you can copy/paste this one as many times as you need to). </li>  </ul>

<<set $they to "They">><<set $plural to true>>\ Here's an example of how the 'Live Update' macro by Cycy works: *<<link "She/Her">><<set $they to "She">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "He/Him">><<set $they to "He">><<set $plural to false>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "They/Them">><<set $they to "They">><<set $plural to true>><<update>><</link>> <<liveblock>> $they <<are>> super fun and love<<s>> cupcakes. <</liveblock>> You can also use it to update the dialog labels! Try it by opening the settings menu and toggling the dialog labels button :) <<liveblock>> *<<link "Choice with flirt label $flirt_label" "4">><</link>> *<<link "Choice with info label $info_label" "4">><</link>> <</liveblock>> <center><<if $ gt 0 and $ lte 5>> <<elseif $ gt 5 and $ lte 20>> <<elseif $ gt 20 and $ lte 50>> <<elseif $ gt 50 and $ lte 70>> <<elseif $ gt 70 and $ lt 100>> <<elseif $ is 100>> <<else>> <</if>></center>

You roll down the window, a man is hunched down to peer at you. Greasy, spiky, short hair the colour of dirty beach sand frames a strong jawed face with patchy stubble of the same colour at his chin. a nose that looks like it's no doubt been broken, set, and rebroken several times over, and cold, calloused, muddy hazel eyes right above it. You're familiar with this man. Carter Abernathy. Or, rather, //Dollface//, as he calls himself and expects you to call him whenever you're "on a job" You're broken from your thoughts again as he addresses you. <div class='choice choicebtn'> <<button "Next" "3">><</button>></div>

The other car door opens as Carter sits down, pulling his stained gloves off, reaching over and stuffing them into the car's middle console and shutting the lid. "Well, That was fun." ---- *◇[[You grip the steering wheel tighter, your part of the job was about to begin|6][$job to $drive]] *◇[[You check your hands, making sure they're clean, you clean up after Carter, and your part of the job is already done. You think back, making sure you did everything right.|6.1][$job to $clean]] *◇[[You were the one who lured the poor fucker to Carter, you're just along for the ride now. You stare out the window as you remember the night.|6.2][$job to $bait, $PIscore += 1]] *◇[[Your part in this is long over, you gather information about Carter's targets. Why he insists on bringing you along is a mystery. Or maybe he just doesn't trust you. Your eyes unfocus as you think about how this night started.|6.3][$job to $info, $PIscore += 1]] *◇[[You do......basically everything for him except the actual killing part.|6.1.1][$job to $all]]

Carter rolls his eyes and leaves the window. <div style="color:red"> <strong>The blood from his hands stain the car door</strong></div> you grimace as you roll up the window again you feel the car lurch as //something// heavy is dumped into the car's trunk and is roughly slammed shut. The body is packed in and ready to go. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "5">><</button>></div>

<<timed 1s t8n>>//skccch....//<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>//skccch....//<</timed>> <<timed 5s t8n>>//skccch....//<</timed>> <<timed 6s t8n>>The muffled dragging sound from outside has been going on for several minutes now, steadily getting louder as it gets closer to the vehicle you're currently in.<</timed>> <<timed 10s t8n>>//skccch....//<</timed>> <<timed 12s t8n>>//skccch....//<</timed>> <<timed 14s t8n>>//skccch....//<</timed>> <<timed 15s t8n>>it's almost soothing, in a way, if you weren't already thoroughly aware of the origin of the sound. you could pretend that this is a relaxing outing to the local campgrounds<</timed>> <<timed 16s t8n>>......At the dead of night.<</timed>> <<timed 17s t8n>>Inside of a beat down old car.<</timed>> <<timed 18s>>THUNK<</timed>> <<timed 18.5s>>THUNK<</timed>> <<timed 19s>>THUNK<</timed>> <<timed 19s>>You're snapped out of your thoughts by a fist pounding on your window.<</timed>> <<timed 20s>>*[[roll the window down|2]]<</timed>>

Freddie Jason Michael Billie Stu Harry Axel Charles Pamela Daniel Norman Jamie Tiffany Amanda Carrie Another page to do whatever you want with! I really just wanted another page to fill out the footer menu<3 ---- !Heading 1 !!Heading 2 !!!Heading 3 <<cycle "$" autoselect>> <<option "">> <<option "">> <<option "">> <</cycle>> <<textbox "$textbox" "Type here...">><<button "Submit">><</button>> * List item 1 * List item 2 * List item 3 <div id=""> *<<link "">> <<replace "#">> <</replace>> <</link>> </div>

<<set _nameOptions to ["Freddie", "Jason", "Michael", "Billie","Stu","Harry","Axel","Charles","Pamela","Daniel","Norman","Jamie","Tiffany","Amanda","Carrie"]>> !!What's your name? <<textbox "$firstname" "">> <<cycle "$firstname" autoselect>> <<optionsfrom _nameOptions>> <<update>> <</cycle>> <<button "Submit">><<update>><</button>> <<liveblock>>$firstname, hurry your ass up and pop the trunk will ya? We're on a fuckin' time limit here.<</liveblock>> ---- *[[you simply nod, -since you don't speak- while reaching over|4][$mcsign to true]] *[[you just roll your eyes, -since you don't speak- as you reach over|4][$mcsign to true]] *[[you flip him off, -since you don't speak- while you reach over|4][$mcsign to true]] *[["'Oh, Yeah, sure.'" As you reach over|4]] *[["'Would it kill you to say please?'" As you reach over|4]] *[["'Dickhead.'" you reach over|4]]

You lean back in your seat and sigh as the car starts up with a sickly sounding sputter, and drives away from the campground parking lot and into the darkened street. This has been a long night. You feel like it's only gonna get longer. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "7">><</button>></div>

<div style="color:red"><center><h1>DEMO END</h1></center></div> <center><h3>That's all for now! Thanks for reading! <center><h3>Find update info, memes, asks, and more</h3></center> <div style="color:red"><center><h1><a href="https://harlequinoccult.tumblr.com/">Here!</a></h1></center></div>

<h3><<type 70ms>>3:45 am<</type>></h3> <<timed 2s t8n>> You're tired. You didn't exactly have a whole lot of time to prepare when Carter told you he's gotten another //urge//. You briefly close your eyes to take a deep breath in, trying to center yourself Or, well, you //try// to, as Carter snaps his fingers right in front of your face. "Ey, $firstname, Look the fuck alive. No slackin' or sleepin' on a job, jackass."<</timed>> <<timed 2s t8n>>---- *[[Your eyes slowly drag over towards where he's sitting with the most contempt you can muster in one look|8.1]] *[[You nod and your eyes snap back to watching the darkened road infront of you|8.2]] *[["'I wasn't- Yeah sure, okay.'"|8.2]] *[["'Can a have just a moment of zen, you insufferable prick.'"|8.1]]<</timed>>

You can't help but think about how you came to know Carter, after that //exchange.// ---- *[[You're in debt. Like a lot of fucking debt. Carter provided the easiest solution without selling your soul to loan sharks.|10][$CarterRel to $CDebt, $PIscore += 1]] *[[You were friends once. You're not sure if that's still true now though.|10][$CarterRel to $CFriend]] *[[He's you're uncle.|10][$CarterRel to $CUnc]] *[[You had the misfortune of Carter knowing something he shouldn't about you. He's holding that over you until you die.|10][$CarterRel to $CMail, $PIscore += 1]]

shaking off your thoughts, Your eyes flick to the rapidly approaching lights of civilization. Newcreed City. Not the best city in the world, but you could do a whole lot worse, at least there's a few forests in the surrounding area. You're a few minutes away from your apartment, and the sweet, sweet, embrace of the abyss that is sleep. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next">> <<if $job is $drive>> <<goto "10.1">> <<elseif $job is $all>> <<goto "10.1">> <<else>> <<goto "10.2">> <</if>><</button>></div>

You open the bathroom door, flick on the lights, and are greeted by a haggard looking <<cycle "$person" autoselect>><<option "person">><<option "woman">><<option "man">><</cycle>> You glare at your own reflection, the you that is and isn't you, the haggard individual from the mirror realm, being made warped and distorted before your very eyes. ..........God you're fucking tired. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "13">><</button>></div>

You lean in closer to the mirror to inspect yourself, making sure there's no stray traces of blood on your <<cycle "$skin" autoselect>><<option "dark">><<option "brown">><<option "light brown">><<option "olive">><<option "tan">><<option "beige">><<option "pale">><</cycle>> skin, you meet your tired <<cycle "$eyes" autoselect>><<option "grey">><<option "brown">><<option "blue">><<option "green">><<option "hazel">><<option "black">><<option "reddish">><</cycle>> eyes with a sigh. Aside from the <<cycle "$face" autoselect>><<option "freckles">><<option "moles">><<option "large scar">><<option "small scar">><<option "multiple scars">><<option "acne">><<option "vitiligo markings">><<option "eczema">><<option "dimples">><<option "bit of dirt">><</cycle>> on your face, your complexion is clear. You run your hand over your <<cycle "$hair" autoselect>><<option "cropped">><<option "short">><<option "chin length">><<option "shoulder length">><<option "long">><</cycle>> hair, turn on your shower, and strip out of your grungy clothes. <<cycle "$trans" autoselect>><<option "Struggling a bit to take off your binder">><<option "Struggling a bit to take off your stuffed bra">><<option "taking care to mind your top surgery scars">><<option "popping an estrogen pill now so you don't forget later">><<option "Testing the water with your hand to make sure its warmed up">><</cycle>> as you get in, getting your <<cycle "$htext" autoselect>><<option "curly">><<option "coily">><<option "wavy">><<option "fluffy">><<option "straight">><</cycle>> hair wet. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "14">><</button>></div>

After your shower you feel like a new $person. You slip <<cycle "$cycling" autoselect>>, <<option "Into your comfy pjyamas">> <<option "into your cute pjyamas">> <<option "into your lacy pjyamas">> <<option "out of your clothes, down to your undies">> <<option "into your birthday suit">> <</cycle>> wrap yourself up in your blanket and...... Start scrolling through your phone instead of sleeping. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "14.1">><</button>></div>

After a few minutes of scrolling through your favourite hellish social media platforms, you get a notification. You've got an email. At nearly 4 am. This //certanly// bodes well. *[[Open it|16]]

The place is a mess. As usual. Any mess, or decor, or //literally anything// you potentially could've had on your own is completely over ridden with Carter making the place look like a perpetual crime scene. Beer bottles and food delivery boxes litter almost every table and table adjacent surface. Dirty dishes overflow in the sink and what doesn't fit is shoved off to the side of the counter. faded, rusty looking stains on the carpet leading to Carter's bathroom. The couch littered with cigarette burn holes. A fist shaped hole in the wall, half assedly covered with tape and painted over. Only reason its not littered with roaches constantly is because Carter routinely threatens the landlord into getting the exterminator to spray the apartment for free. Yup. this is the place you have to live in. <<cycle "$apa" autoselect>> <<option "You try to clean up. you really do. But carter is like a walking trash generator. The effort is futile but you still try.">><<option "You at least try to keep your own room and bathroom looked lived in rather than a disaster area. and the kitchen at least clean enough to be useable. The living room is a complete write off though">><<option "You're nowhere near as bad as Carter but you would be lying if you said you weren't kinda messy">><</cycle>> *[[head to your bathroom, wash the remains of this night away|12]]

He scowls at you, squinting his eyes "Watch the fucking attitude, I'm not about to get caught because your dumbass can't keep the fuck up, got it?" You roll your eyes so hard you swear you can see your brain <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "9">><</button>></div>

Carter snorts, //"Fuckin' Doormat."// he says under his breath, though you feel like he wasn't trying all that hard to make sure you didn't hear. you sigh. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "9">><</button>></div>

You'll have to wait a bit longer to get home. First you have to get rid of your passenger and his....//cargo//. You don't know the...//"intricacies"// of Carter's //"process"// and you're not entirely sure that you want to know. You pull up to Carter's apartment. He pops his neck, and opens his car door. You....just noticed he never put on his seatbelt. If a cop had pulled you over for that.....and saw the handprint he left on the car.....God, and he calls //you// careless. Carter slams the car door closed and leans in through the window. "Your pay's gonna be in the usual place. Get rid of the car, I don't care how ya do it just get rid of it and don't be a fuckin' idiot about it, or you'll be in deep shit if I have to clean up after you, $firstname." You already know all this. You have a usual place. Carter knows this too and all he's doing is wasting his and your time with threats. <<cycle "$cycling" autoselect>> <<option "You jut your thumb towards the trunk, signalling carter to get his shit and go">> <<option "You simply nod with a sigh, patiently waiting for him to leave">> <<option "'Just get your shit and let me do my job you ass.'">> <<option "'Um. Okay. Got it.'">> <</cycle>> Annnd he's already walking away. You're almost done for the night. Just one last step. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "10.1.1">><</button>></div>

Just as you think of it, like magic, you're already pulling up to the curb of your apartment building. Thank god. You waste no time in unbuckling yourself from your seat and opening your door to get out, but before you can close the door, carter speaks up. "Your pay's gonna be in the usual place. You know the drill, keep your fuckin' mouth shut. You don't know shit, you don't say shit, and you don't know me. Fuck that up and it'll be your head next. Got it, $firstname?" You already know all this. He's said it after every single job. Carter knows this too and all he's doing is wasting his and your time with threats. <<cycle "$cycling" autoselect>> <<option "You just stare blankly at him until he leaves">> <<option "'Yeah, sure, whatever. Can I go now?'">> <<option "You nod slowly">> <<option "'Y-yeah. I got it.'">> <</cycle>> The car door slams shut as his car is already pulling off before you can even react. The nights' over. You're in front of your apartment building. ---- *[[Your apartment, peaceful, silent, and all yours|11][$PIscore += 1]] *[[Well, partly yours. You have to share it with Carter.|11.2]]

Your door shuts as you finally step into your apartment. <<cycle "$apa" autoselect>> <<option "Everything is neat and tidy, to an almost clinical degree. You know where every item in this apartment is any every single thing has its place">> <<option "Your place is clean, but in a lived in sort of way. A coat here, a dish or two in the sink there. pretty normal">> <<option "Eh, your place has a bit of clutter, but you know where stuff is, so thats good enough for you.">> <<option "If you're being completely honest with yourself your place is a bit of a disaster. But it's //your// disaster.">><</cycle>> *[[head to your bathroom, wash the remains of this night away|12]]

<<set _nameOptions to ["Krueger", "Voorhees", "Myers", "Abernathy", "Loomis","Macher","Warden","Palmer","Ray","Harris","Bates","Lee","Valentine","Young","White"]>> !!!What's your last name? <<textbox "$lastname" "">> <<cycle "$lastname" autoselect>> <<optionsfrom _nameOptions>> <<update>> <</cycle>> <<button "Submit">><<update>><</button>> <center><<liveblock>><strong>Hello, $firstname $lastname</strong><</liveblock>></center> <center><strong>I have an opportunity you may be interested in</strong></center> //Yeah this totally doesn't sound like a scam.// <center><strong>Are you tired of having no control over your life? What if I said I could give you control? of not only your life, //but the lives of others as well?//</strong></center> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "17">><</button>></div>

//I could give you control. Of not only your life, but the lives of others as well.// Those words echoed through your head throughout the night. What could that even mean? Was this some kind of marketing scam? That some greased up business man with a shitty toupée and a million dollars worth of jewlery on his fingers was gonna tell you about "business synergy" and try to sell you a timeshare? .......No. The email didn't...//feel// like that. It felt.....different. <center><strong>I believe that you, $firstname, have potential. Potential that is //wasted// on irrelevant people. I want to unlock that potential. This is no scam or cult as you may think, It is a simple offer. No money involved. All I ask, is that you come to the location provided in the attachment of this email. I await your arrival with baited breath. -M</strong></center> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "18">><</button>></div>

So, why are you currently walking towards <<cycle "$cycling" autoselect>>? <<option "your car">> <<option "your motorcycle">> <<option "your bike">> <<option "the bus stop">> <</cycle>> ---- *[[You're honestly curious. Even if this turns out to be a scam, you can always just leave anyway.|19]] *[[You're desperate. Anything has to be better than the way you're living right now.|19]] *[[Whoever this..."M" is, they seem....Interesting.♡|19][$THr += 1]] *[[You don't know. Anything to pass time really, you don't really have much going on.|19]] *[[Seeing a sweaty, desparate, middle aged business man try to scam people might be a laugh to see, so why not.|19]]

<h3><<type 70ms>>6:35 pm<</type>></h3> <<timed 2s t8n>>The sun is setting as you arrive, You stand at the darkened, yawning mouth of the forest. This.....isn't what you expected. Though, you see that there is a trimmed and well maintained trail leading further in, so you're not heading into some uncharted part of the forest.... There are even cute little mushrooms and patches of wildflowers dotting the edges of the trail, how bad can it //really// be? <div style="color:red"><center><strong>WARNING</strong> There will be //many// various depictions of violence throughout the entirety of this story. Viewer Discretion Is Advised</center></div> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "22">><</button>></div> <</timed>>

As you head out of your apartment, you catch a glimpse of yourself in the window of one of the cars parked along the curb, you take the chance to fix yourself up a bit, patting down your $hair, <<cycle "$hc" autoselect>><<option "black">><<option "brown">><<option "blonde">><<option "auburn">><<option "ginger">><<option "white">><<option "dyed">><</cycle>> hair, that you keep <<cycle "$hstyle" autoselect>><<option "natural">><<option "slicked back and away from your face">><<option "out of your face in a ponytail">><<option "in pigtails">><<option "braided">><<option "in box braids">><<option "in a bun">><<option "littered with hair accesories">><<option "in locs">><<option "shaved on one side">><<option "full of hair products, and carefully styled.">><<option "messy">><<option "in bantu knots">><<option "pulled back in afro puffs">><<option "pulled back into space buns">><<option "styled with finger waves">><<option "in a wolf cut">><<option "in your face, covering your eyes">><<option "in emo bangs">><</cycle>>. You back up a bit to straighten out the rest of your outfit before you go. <center><<listbox "$over" autoselect>> <<option "Leather Jacket" "leather jacket">> <<option "Denim Jacket" "denim jacket">> <<option "Varsity Jacket" "varsity jacket">> <<option "Suit Jacket" "suit jacket">> <<option "Vest" "vest">> <<option "Hoodie" "hoodie">> <<option "Cardigan" "cardigan">> <<option "Trenchcoat" "trenchcoat">> <<option "Puffer jacket" "puffer jacket">> <</listbox>><<listbox "$under" autoselect>> <<option "Graphic Tee" "graphic t-shirt">> <<option "Plain Tee" "plain t-shirt">> <<option "Crop Top" "crop top">> <<option "Long Sleeved Shirt" "long sleeved shirt">> <<option "Skin Tight Shirt" "skin tight shirt">> <<option "Tank Top" "tank top">> <<option "Turtleneck" "turtleneck">> <<option "Button Up Shirt" "button up shirt">> <<option "Blouse" "blouse">> <<option "Poet Shirt" "poet shirt">> <<option "Sweater" "sweater">> <<option "Fishnet Shirt" "fishnet shirt">> <</listbox>><<listbox "$pants" autoselect>> <<option "Ripped Jeans" "ripped jeans">> <<option "Work Jeans" "work jeans">> <<option "Short Shorts" "short shorts">> <<option "Leggings" "leggings">> <<option "Dress Pants" "dress pants">> <<option "Sweatpants" "sweatpants">> <<option "Leather Pants" "leather pants">> <<option "Long Skirt" "a long skirt">> <<option "Pleated Skirt" "a pleated skirt">> <<option "Mini Skirt" "a mini skirt">> <<option "Jumpsuit" "a jumpsuit">> <<option "Overalls" "overalls">> <</listbox>> <<listbox "$shoes" autoselect>> <<option "Sneakers" "sneakers">> <<option "Combat Boots" "combat boots">> <<option "Platform Boots" "platform boots">> <<option "Crocs" "crocs">> <<option "Dress Shoes" "dress shoes">> <<option "Pumps" "pumps">> <<option "Cowboy Boots" "cowboy boots">> <<option "Work Boots" "work boots">> <<option "Rainboots" "rainboots">> <<option "Ankle Boots" "ankle boots">> <</listbox>></center> Rings <<checkbox "$ring" false true>> Bracelets <<checkbox "$brace" false true>> Watch <<checkbox "$watch" false true>> Earrings <<checkbox "$ear" false true>> Necklace <<checkbox "$neck" false true>> Choker <<checkbox "$cho" false true>> Glasses <<checkbox "$gla" false true>> Eyebrow piercing <<checkbox "$ebpier" false true>> Tongue piercing <<checkbox "$tpier" false true>> Nose piercing <<checkbox "$npier" false true>> Lip piercing <<checkbox "$lpier" false true>> Ear piercing <<checkbox "$epier" false true>> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "20">><</button>></div>

<center>$CarterRel</center> <center><<button "Return" $return>><</button>></center>

<<if $THr gte 3>> <center>They are //very// interested in you.</center> <<else>> <center>$TH</center> <</if>> <center><<button "Return" $return>><</button>></center>

You pull the rusty, beat up, old car towards the dump. The place is old, doesn't have good security cameras, and the college dude on the night shift isn't paid enough to really give a shit about you arriving at 3 in the morning It's absolutely perfect for dumping all kinds of things. Tonight, the car. You pull it around to park it next to all the other old dilapidated junkers, Turn it off, and toss the key somewhere behind you in the car, and get out. The air is cold, as expected for autumn in Newcreed. You walk out of the dump, taking care you avoid the sight of the cameras. ---- *[[Back to your apartment|11]] *[[Back to your and Carters shared apartment|11.2]]

You give yourself one last glance in the cars' side mirror, <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "making sure your makeup isn't smudged">> <<option "to check your teeth">> <</cycle>> <<if $hc is "dyed">>and to make sure your <<textbox "$hc" "">> hair dye hasn't faded in the shower<</if>> *[[Enough stalling, time to go.|21]]

<<timed 1s t8n>>//crunch....//<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>//crunch....//<</timed>> <<timed 5s t8n>>//crunch....//<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>You stomp your way through the forest trail, <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "You're enjoying yourself, the forest is nice in the autumn and the air is crisp">> <<option "You're starting to regret coming. Trudging through the forest isn't your idea of a fun passtime.">> <<option "The forest is....a little spooky if you're being honest. It's starting to get dark out...">> <<option "You're ambivalent. The forest is a forest. the trees are trees. It's nothing special.">> <</cycle>> Though...something does feel //off//. You're not sure why, but you get the feeling of.... of being //watched//. ---- *[[You look around, just in case.|22.1]] *[[Ignore it. It's probably just an animal|23]] <</timed>>

<<if $twoone is 1>> You wave at the camera. Nothing happens. You shrug your shoulders and keep walking. <<elseif $twoone is 2>> You smile at the camera. You're not sure whose behind it, but you've always gotta look good, just in case. <<elseif $twoone is 3>> You blow a kiss and throw in a wink for good measure. Just for funzies. <<elseif $twoone is 4>> You give a little smile and wave, a bit flustered at being filmed. <<elseif $twoone is 5>> Oh hell yes. You start busting out your best moves. You do a jaunty forest jig. You're cutting up a fucking RUG. <<elseif $twoone is 6>> You glare at the camera and you flip it off. You're definitely not a fan of being filmed. <<elseif $twoone is 7>> You move along, it's probably just a security system or something. <<elseif $twoone is 8>> That....is concerning. this implies the possibility of this entire forest being under surveillance. Why? By who? Suspicious. <</if>> Your walk gets longer and longer, the day growing darker and darker, transitioning into night. While you can still see the path, it is starting to get harder to see your surroundings. Combined with the fact that you're not entirely sure what you're supposed to be looking for, there are no signs or directions, the email was vague and just said to "follow the path until you reach the end" which you have been for quite a while now, and still nothing. You're starting to get tired- Oh. Wait. The trail just ended. *[[And there's a staircase leading into the ground in front of you.|24]]

You look around, trying to see something out of place in your immediate surroundings At first you don't see anything, just normal forest activity. until you look up at one of the trees. There's....a camera? You almost didn't see it at first, it's a small, mostly rounded black lense and partially embedded into the tree itself. Huh.....weird. ---- *[[Wave at the camera|23][$twoone to 1]] *[[Smile at the camera|23][$twoone to 2]] *[[Blow a kiss at the camera ♡|23][$twoone to 3, $THr += 1]] *[[Shyly smile and wave at the camera ♡|23][$twoone to 4, $THr += 1]] *[[Do a dance|23][$twoone to 5]] *[[Flip off the camera|23][$twoone to 6, $asshole += 1]] *[[Keep walking|23][$twoone to 7]] <<if $PIscore >= 2>> *[[Make note if it.|23][$twoone to 8, $PIscore += 1]] <</if>>

Oh. Well. Hm. In front of you, there's a hole in the ground, that has a concrete staircase. Like some sort of underground bunker with no hatch. The email didn't say anything about a bunker....But this //is// where the trail ends. Well, there's no where else to go... //But down.// *[[And be swallowed by the earth itself|25]]

You hear the sound of your own footsteps as you walk through the tunnel. Leaves and other forest debris that found their way inside, once cushioning your walk, become more and more scarce until they're gone entirely. Leaving the concrete ground that you walk on blank and bare in the darkened tunnel. You can't see all that much, and it's only been getting darker the further into the tunnel you go. Thankfully your path seems to be completely straight, as you haven't bumped into any walls yet. You're just starting to get tired of all this walking- But then. You see it. <div style="color:red">A red door</div> At the end of the tunnel. *[[You pick up the pace|26]]

At an expedited pace, you easily reach the door, and upon further inspection..... It's a weird door. Well, no, the door is pretty normal looking. It's a red wooden door, like one you would find leading into someones home. Four panels, a shiny golden door knob, and a hooded lamp right above it, emitting a warm orange tinted light. No, the door itself isn't weird. The fact that a door like this is at the end of an underground concrete tunnel in the middle of a forest, is. <div id="knock">\ *<<link "Knock on the door">> <<replace "#knock">>You knock on the door. ....... No response. <</replace>> <</link>> \</div> <div id="look">\ *<<link "Look at your surroundings">> <<replace "#look">>You look at your surroundings, theres not much besides the door. The concrete is smooth, clean, and completely featureless. No, Wait. You almost missed it, but right at the top of the doorframe, theres a very small camera.... <</replace>> <</link>> \</div> *[[Turn the knob and go inside|27]]

You open the door. <<timed 1s t8n>>And you are immediately //blinded// by the brightness of the room in contrast to the dark tunnel you just came from. Once your eyes adjust to the light, you find yourself in a small, completely white room. There's what looks like an intercom and speaker system next to a plain white door. A voice crackles from the speaker ---- *[[It's a lilting and chipper voice, a bit on the deeper side and feminine sounding|28][$THG to "female"]] *[[It's a soft but rich voice, smooth like a radio host and masculine sounding|28][$THG to "male"]] <</timed>>

<center><strong>Hello, $firstname $lastname. Firstly I would like to thank you for taking the time out of your night to make the trip all the way out here, and pressing through, despite this no doubt very confusing situation. I am sure you have a number of questions, but please do bear with me as I make my introduction.</strong></center> Alright, <<m_they>> //has// been pretty polite, so you guess you'll oblige. <center><strong>//Ahem.// Congratulations! You have been chosen to participate in an //extremely// unique opportunity. We at the SLAUGHTER INITIATIVE would like to invite you to play a game with us.</strong></center> .....A game? <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "29">><</button>></div>

<center><strong>In this game, you and a several other specially chosen individuals will be exploring this lovely forest.</strong></center> Huh, that doesn't sound //that// bad- <center><strong>To seek out and destroy individuals who taint and corrupt.</strong></center> Oh. <center><strong>You may choose your targets freely. Elimitate those who do not belong. Eliminate the unmasked and unworthy.</strong></center> <center><strong>//Decide their fate.//</strong></center> ........ <center><strong>Any questions?</strong></center> <div id="how"> *<<link "How would I kill, or even find anyone else in this forest?">> <<replace "#how">> <strong>Not to worry, you will have the full support of the Slaughter Initiative backing you. Targets, weapons, masks, and any other supplies you need will be fully provided.</strong> <</replace>> <</link>> </div><div id="what"> *<<link 'Whats in it for me?'>> <<replace "#what">> <strong>Consider this a sort of...trial period. If you choose to accept the help of the Slaughter Initiative, we will support you to the best of our ability in all your future endevours.</strong> <</replace>> <</link>> </div><div id="why"> *<<link 'Why is this Slaughter Initiative interested in me? Why are they doing this?'>> <<replace "#why">> <strong>Oh! I'm very glad you asked, I- //We// at the Slaughter Initiative believe that what you, and others like you do, to be an //art//, a talent. And we would like to foster, sponsor, and provide means to let this talent grow and flourish unabated. We believe that you, $firstname, have a wealth of potential.</strong> <</replace>> <</link>> </div><div id="who"> *<<link 'Who are these other chosen individuals?'>> <<replace "#who">> <strong>....//hehe//</strong> .....did <<m_they>> just giggle? <strong>//Ahem// Rest assured, you will meet these individuals yourself quite soon. It would be rude of me to make their introductions for them. They are like you, in a sense, though you will be a sort of rookie among their ranks</strong> <</replace>> <</link>> </div><div id="M"> *<<link '.....Well, who are //you?//'>> <<replace "#M">>Theres a moment of silence after you <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "ask the question">> <<option "sign the question to the camera">> <</cycle>> <strong>....Oh! Oh my, it seems I've completely forgotten to actually introduce myself! My deepest apologies, $firstname. You may call me The Host.</strong> <</replace>> <</link>> </div> ---- *[[No questions.|30]] *[[Yeah. How do I leave right now immediately.|Rejection]]

<center><strong>Excellent. Then please, enter through the door right in front of you and we shall continue.</strong></center> //click// The door unlocks, you go inside. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "31">><</button>></div>

It's silent. For a very long time. Until you head the speaker crackle to life once again <center><strong> ...I see. Are you sure you wouldn't like to reconsider? The Slaughter Initiative would support you completely, and this support does include monetary compensation if you so desire it.</strong></center> *[[You're completely sure. You want to leave. Now.|DEADEND]] *[[On second thought....Maybe you do want this.|30]] ----

<center><strong>I see. That is...</strong><div style="color:red"><strong>Unfortunate.</strong></div><strong>As you wish.</strong></center> To your right, a panel from the wall opens up into a secret passage <center><strong>I apologize. Please make your way out.</strong></center> You walk through the exit, into a darkened space. //KA-CHUNK// .....huh? The speaker crackles somewhere above you. <center><strong>This offer was a very exclusive one, you see. Very few people know of this opportunity, and I intend to keep it that way. Very unfortunate, I had very high hopes for you, $firstname, but you certainly understand, right?</strong></center> <center><strong>Well, goodbye.</strong></center> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "END">><</button>></div>

<sub>CW: passage contains main character death, Fast moving, repeating text.</sub> <<set $achieve001 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: Well coming here sure was an Acid-dent<</notify>> It's still dark. completely pitch black. You try to turn around and pound on the door you came in from. It's no use, it feels like solid wall. You smell it before you hear it. An acerbic chemical smell floods the room then you hear the sound of liquid. It hits your shoes. It hits your skin. It burns. <center><strong>It burns.</strong></center> <<type 8ms>><center><strong> IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS //IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS//</strong><h2>// IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS//</h2></center> <center><h2>DEAD END</h2></center> <center><sub>[[Go back?|29]]</sub></center><</type>>

In front of you are several rows of tables, on your left, what seems to be several rows of different //weapons.// on your right, a variety of different masks neatly placed upon mannequin heads <center><strong>Feel free to choose a mask and weapon that is to your liking. Take your time, this is an important desicion after all!</strong></center> You look towards the masks, you're drawn to the- <<listbox "$mask" autoselect>> <<option "Venetian mask" "Venetian mask">> <<option "Flowery porcelain mask" "Flowery porcelain mask">> <<option "Dollhead" "Dollhead">> <<option "Monster mask" "Monster mask">> <<option "Smiley face mask" "Smiley face mask">> <<option "Wolf mask" "Wolf mask">> <<option "Ducky mask" "Ducky mask">> <<option "Lion mask" "Lion mask">> <<option "Bear mask" "Bear mask">> <<option "Rabbit mask" "Rabbit mask">> <<option "Plague doctor mask" "Plague doctor mask">> <<option "Goat mask" "Goat mask">> <<option "Cow Skull" "Cow Skull">> <<option "Blank mask" "Blank mask">> <<option "Skull mask" "Skull mask">> <<option "Clown mask" "Clown mask">> <<option "Bucket" "Bucket">> <<option "Devil mask" "Devil mask">> <<option "Burlap Sack" "Burlap Sack">> <<option "Balaclava" "Balaclava">> <<option "Gas Mask" "Gas Mask">> <</listbox>> And as for the weapons, you have your eyes on the- <<listbox "$weapon" autoselect>> <<option "Knife kit" "a Knife kit">> <<option "Hunting Knife" "a Hunting Knife">> <<option "Hammer" "a Hammer">> <<option "Baseball Bat" "a Baseball Bat">> <<option "Axe" "an Axe">> <<option "Chainsaw" "a Chainsaw">> <<option "Brass knuckles" "Brass knuckles">> <<option "Machete" "a Machete">> <<option "Hockey stick" "a Hockey stick">> <<option "Lead pipe" "a Lead pipe">> <<option "Sickle" "a Sickle">> <<option "Crowbar" "a Crowbar">> <<option "Tire Iron" "a Tire Iron">> <<option "Pickaxe" "a Pickaxe">> <<option "Shovel" "a Shovel">> <<option "Hooked Chain" "a Hooked Chain">> <</listbox>> *[[You go to look at yourself in the mirror|33]]

the gas station,the abandoned church-OD the old cabin,the fog-CLD the campsite,the car-SH the clearing, the campsite-BD the old cabin, the gas station-ELY The woods, the bunker-TH the romance point or platonic point for all ros is at the luxury lodge. where the mc can show off their specialty. and help "clear out" the luxry cabin. this could be collaborative, or a competition. spiked collar pink and sparkly collar chain collar studded collar leather collar rainbow collar beaded collar collars found in lodge kennel have patch pin and spike option at end of slasher customization for leather jacket and demin jacket mcs <<option "Knife kit" "0.1">> <<option "Hunting Knife" "0.2">> <<option "Twin daggers" "0.3">> <<option "Hammer" "0.4">> <<option "Baseball Bat" "0.5">> <<option "Axe" "0.6">> <<option "Chainsaw" "0.7">> <<option "Brass knuckles" "0.8">> <<option "Machete" "0.9">> <<option "Hockey stick" 2.2">> <<option "Cricket bat" "3.3">> <<option "Lead pipe" "4.4">> <<option "Sickle" "5.5">> <<option "Crowbar" "6.6">> <<option "Tire Iron" "7.7">> <<option "Pickaxe" "8.8">> <<option "Shovel" "9.9">> <<option "Rebar" "0.0">> <<option "Hook and Chain" "0.00">>

<sub>//Earlier in the night//</sub> Before you close the door to get your cleaning supplies out of the trunk and march off into the bloodstained woods, you hear Carter yell at you. //"It better be fuckin' spotless. and don't come back here stinkin' like guts either or you're walkin' back on your own"// Says the man whose discarded, viscera covered clothes are in a trashbag in the backseat. That you, no doubt, will be forced to bring to a laundromat that doesn't ask questions. Regardless. You need to focus on the job at hand. You step into the kill clearing- <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "You're used to bodies by now, but it never gets easier to look at, the smell is sickening.">><<option "You're numb to it at this point and barely register the miasma of death">><<option "It's kind of fascinating, if you're being honest. The gore never actually bothered you.">><</cycle>> You've got a roll of trashbags and several jugs of water with you. Cleaning up natural areas is always a bit tricky, since you really can't use any cleaning products. That would definitely make it look suspicious if a patch of forest smelled like bleach. <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "You bring a bag of dirt with you for jobs like this. It helps.">><<option "You looked into what kinds of food you could use to attract animals to the area. The wild would always do a better cover up job than you ever could.">><<option "A few jugs of water and scuffing the area a bit usually does the trick. You know good and well that the cops never actually look that hard when it comes to shit that happens in the forests.">><</cycle>> Now, the body. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "6.1.2">><</button>></div> ----

Carter does basically whatever he wants while you wait on him hand and foot. At least he pays you. Kind of. ---- *[[You go over the crime scene in your mind, You'd go back to check it over yourself, but carter is already impatient to get going already.|6.1]] *[[You think back to earlier in the night, making sure there were no witnesses when you lured them in|6.2]] *[[You take stock of all the information you gathered from the night, making sure you didn't miss anything|6.3]] *[[You grip the steering wheel. Everything's already been taken care of, You're almost home free.|6]]

<sub>CW: description of dead body</sub> The body. <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "Never gets easier to look at. Carter is always so....brutal.">> <<option "Is a body. Could be a pile of meat at this point for all you care.">> <<option "Is....beautiful in a twisted way. The glint of blood in the moonlight sparkles like rubies.">><</cycle>> Carter, of course is half way to his "signature" the body hacked and vivisected like a lab project that would get an F, or an F+ if the teacher was //generous//. The face is completely unrecognizable, partly out of practicality, partly so carter can have a clean slate to sew and glue his little doll parts to. He's extremely particular about how you pack the body, down to having a //favourite// bodybag he wants you to put it in. He'll take it home and....//"Doll it up"// as he puts it. He'll hang it up somewhere public like a marionette, so people see it before the cops can take it down. <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "He's a fucking freak">> <<option "Not your place to judge you guess. But it's not something you'd do.">> <<option "Honestly? Carter isn't the most elegant, but you can respect the attempt at artistry. If it wasn't so...sloppy you'd probably respect him more.">> <</cycle>> ---- *[[You wrap it up, literally and figuratively, heading back to the car so carter can claim his 'prize'|6]]

<<set $iden to true>> <<if $mask is "Venetian mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at your carnival-esc mask, its eccentric patterns glinting and glittering in the flourecent light, you tilt your head from side to side, admiring the filigree details curling across the surface. its mouth curved into a permanent enigmatic -or maybe sinister- smirk. <<elseif $mask is "Flowery porcelain mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at your delacate mask, carefully painted flowers adorn its pristeen face curling and blooming with beautiful bursts of colour, the craftsmanship fine, and made with a careful and detailed hand. <<elseif $mask is "Dollhead">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at the plastic on your face, Carter wears a similar-ish kind of mask. While his has yellowed and cracked over the years, giving it a ghoulish look, this one is brand new and positively cherubian looking, with disturbingly pliable and rubbery rosy cheeks. <<elseif $mask is "Monster mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at the rubber mask, you had several choices for these particular rubber masks, but you're pretty happy with the one you choose. They're all well made masks, definitely not something you would just pick up at some dollar store halloween sale, and pretty well ventilated, with the usual factory rubber smell absent, replaced with the light smell of baby powder. <<elseif $mask is "Smiley face mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at the bright yellow plastic on your face,the painted black circles of the eyes discreetly hiding your real eyes. It's a perfect hemisphere....but looking back on the table where you got it, you notice another blank yellow hemisphere with clasps inside, presumably if you want to turn the mask into a full helmet <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "which you do">><<option "which you don't">><</cycle>> <<elseif $mask is "Wolf mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing into your own $eyes eyes underneath the wolf mask. It's a half mask, though it is large enough to obscure the majority of your face, only leaving a bit of your chin exposed. The structure of the mask makes it so only the colour of your iris is clearly visible. <<elseif $mask is "Ducky mask">> You peer into the mirror, turning your head this way and that with one hand at your obscured chin, and one on your hip, as you inspect the cartoonish and cheerful yellow rubber duck mask over your head. You squish the bill. It squeaks. //Perfect.// <<elseif $mask is "Lion mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at your reflection, the golden lion mask glinting and shining in the flourecent light. The golden metal mane of the mask curves around, cradling your head, while the bottom of the mask snugly cups your chin, overall giving you a regal air. Feeling around the mouth part of the mask, you can feel a //hinge.// Gently prying it open, it reveals your real mouth, framed by the red interior cushioning and golden fangs of the mask. <<elseif $mask is "Bear mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at the carved and polished wooden bear shaped mask on your face. The mask is simple but well made, and completely without blemish, its colour a deep and rich mahogany, the wood grain beautifully pattering the mask. The carving detailing on the wood is impressive and professional in quality, with the inside lined with light cushioning for comfort. <<elseif $mask is "Rabbit mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at your long eared visage. there were two different kinds of rabbit masks on the table, both in a similar shape but of different material. One more closely resembling an intricately detailed mascarade mask, with long straight ears, while the other was made of shiny leather, the tip of one of the ears bent and floppy. You chose the <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "mascarade mask">><<option "leather mask">><</cycle>> <<elseif $mask is "Plague doctor mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at your beaked reflection, the lenses in the mask glinting in the bright light, obscuring your eyes behind <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "red">><<option "black">><<option "green">><<option "blue">><<option "pink">><<option "purple">><<option "yellow">><<option "orange">><</cycle>> lenses. You run your finger over the rivets along the beak, It seems to be real leather, you're sure you could actually stuff flowers, or anything fragrant, really, into the beak if you really wanted to. <<elseif $mask is "Goat mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at your reflection. The goat mask is...disturbingly realistic. You at least......think that it's a fake head. The black fur draping down towards your collarbone is plush. The mask is just a bit heavy due to the horns curling up from the head, but not heavy enough to be cumbersome. The eyes are glass lenses, in the horizontal shape like real goat eyes. <<elseif $mask is "Cow Skull">> You peer into the mirror, gently running your fingers over the pearly bleached white bone of your mask. You can tell it's a real cow skull, just from touch alone, it's immaculately treated and modified to be comfortably worn as a mask <<elseif $mask is "Blank mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at the unnerving blankness of your mask. The only feature present are the eyeholes, your $eyes eyes all the more striking against the smooth <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "white">><<option "black">><<option "mirror">><</cycle>> surface <<elseif $mask is "Skull mask">> You peer into the mirror, taking in your ghoulish appearance, a human skull, intricately and carefully put together, the jaw attached by a clasp that you can open and close like a visor. <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "It's extremely well crafted and made out of carbon metal.">><<option "It is very much a real human skull made of bone, cleaned to perfection and spotless white.">><</cycle>> <<elseif $mask is "Clown mask">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at your reflection, The clown mask is a classic white painted face, <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "In a cute and funny style, diamonds painted over the eyes, circles painting over the cheeks, a heart shaped nose and a sweet curling smile">><<option "In a terrifying and demented looking style, jagged and erratic paint covering the eyeholes, the smile painted unnaturally wide, stretching from cheek to cheek">><</cycle>> <<elseif $mask is "Bucket">> You peer into the mirror, gazing at yourself, a simple metal bucket adorns your head, the eyeholes simple jagged cutouts made into the metal, the handle acting as a madeshift chin strap. You knock on your helmeted head. //KLONK KLONK// Yup. pretty solid. Your defences are impenetrable. <<elseif $mask is "Devil mask">> You look at yourself in the mirror, your mask <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "looks like a stereotypical devil, shiny red skin, horns, and a fanged malicious grin.">><<option "is cold metal, with two black eye holes and a long pair of horns jutting from the forehead">><</cycle>> <<elseif $mask is "Burlap Sack">> You pull the sack over your head, the fabric is a bit itchy, but you'll get used to it. The eyeholes are simple jagged cut outs in the cloth, and you can clearly see your $eyes eyes <<elseif $mask is "Balaclava">> Balaclava You slip the balaclava over your head, the fabric comfortable against your face. It's simple and it gets the job done, you can't beat the classics after all. <<elseif $mask is "Gas Mask">> You pull the gas mask over your face, your appraise your look through its <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "red">><<option "black">><<option "green">><<option "blue">><<option "pink">><<option "purple">><<option "yellow">><<option "orange">><<option "clear">><</cycle>> lenses. The mask absolutely gives you a haunting and alien look.<</if>> <<if $over is "leather jacket">> Your leather jacket shines under the lights, <<cycle "$ljop" autoselect>><<option "smooth and unadorned">><<option "studded and spiked">><<option "decorated with your favourite pins">><<option "studded, spiked, and absolutely covered in pins">><</cycle>> <<elseif $over is "denim jacket">>Your denim jacket heavy on your shoulders, <<cycle "$djop" autoselect>><<option "clean and blank">><<option "covered with patches">><<option "decorated with your own sewn on additions">><<option "covered in patches and your own sewn in designs">><</cycle>> <<elseif $over is "varsity jacket">>The satin of your jacket shines in the light, <<cycle "$vjop" autoselect>><<option "smooth and unadorned">><<option "the embroidery on the back looking vibrant">><<option "the embroidery designs on the back and front looking vibrant">><</cycle>> <<elseif $over is "suit jacket">>Your suit jacket brings your look together incredibly well <<elseif $over is "vest">>Your vest not only looks good, but gives you freedom of movement for your arms. <<elseif $over is "hoodie">>Your trusty hoodie adds comfort and practicality to your look. <<elseif $over is "cardigan">>Your soft cardigan gives an odd sort of contrasting softness to your look, not to mention its no doubt going to get colder later into the night. <<elseif $over is "trenchcoat">>Your trenchcoat sweeps as you give a twirl at the mirror, giving you an air of mystery. <<elseif $over is "puffer jacket">>Your puffer insulates you very well, and adds slightly more intimidating bulk to your appearance. <<elseif $over is "none">><</if>><<if $under is "graphic t-shirt">>Your t-shirt, with a printed graphic <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "from an anime">><<option "from a cartoon">><<option "of a cool design">><<option "of a band logo">><<option "from a video game">><<option "of a slogan">><</cycle>> <<elseif $under is "plain t-shirt">>Youre just wearing a plain <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "white">><<option "black">><<option "grey">><<option "red">><<option "blue">><<option "green">><<option "yellow">><<option "purple">><<option "pink">><<option "orange">><</cycle>>shirt <<elseif $under is "crop top">>Your crop top leaves your abdomen open and feeling the slight chilliness of the room, but your desire to look good overrides any chill you might feel. <<elseif $under is "long sleeved shirt">>Your long sleeved shirt is <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "loose fitting">><<option "well fitting">> on your frame, you're glad you chose to wear it, the room has a bit of a chill and it'll no doubt get colder into the night.<</cycle>> <<elseif $under is "skin tight shirt">>Your shirt is skin tight to your body, with <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "long sleeves">><<option "short sleeves">><<option "no sleeves">><</cycle>> and <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "an open collar">><<option "a high collar">><<option "a v-neck collar">><</cycle>> <<elseif $under is "tank top">>You wear a tank top, you enjoy the freedom of movement it provides, and you can wear it under anything if you wanted to. <<elseif $under is "turtleneck">>You wear a <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "thick">><<option "thin">><</cycle>> turtleneck, keeping the cold off of your neck while remaining stylish. <<elseif $under is "button up shirt">>You wear a button up shirt with <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "long sleeves">><<option "short sleeves">><</cycle>>Neatly pressed and <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "completely buttoned up">><<option "with a few buttons undone">><<option "with most of the buttons undone">><</cycle>><<elseif $under is "blouse">>You wear a loose fitting blouse,<<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "intricate in design and elegant">><<option "plain in design and elegant">><</cycle>> perfectly complimenting your look. <<elseif $under is "poet shirt">>The poet shirt you wear is ruffly and frilly, with long puffed sleeves with the hem <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "worn loose">><<option "tucked into your pants">><</cycle>> <<elseif $under is "sweater">>You wear a cozy sweater, the fuzzy material <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "oversized on your frame">><<option "fitting comfortably on you">><</cycle>><<elseif $under is "fishnet shirt">>The fish net mesh doesn't provide much protection from the cold, but you look damn good in it, at least.<</if>> As for your lower body, you wear <<if $pants is "ripped jeans">> your favourite pair of ripped jeans <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "that you've ripped up yourself">><<option "that you bought pre-distressed.">><</cycle>> <<elseif $pants is "work jeans">> a sturdy pair of wide legged work jeans, with various convenient loops and deep pockets for your needs.<<elseif $pants is "short shorts">>a pair of short shorts, booty shorts, daisy dukes, hotpants, whatever you want to call them, you're wearing them and you're //rocking// them, despite the cold.<<elseif $pants is "leggings">>leggings, that not only excentuate your legs but give you a very flexible range of movement, which you can appreciate<<elseif $pants is "dress pants">>a smart looking pair of dress pants, that are both comfortable and professional.<<elseif $pants is "sweatpants">> a simple and comfortable pair of sweatpants<<elseif $pants is "leather pants">>a pair of tight leather pants, excentuating your //assets.//<<elseif $pants is "a long skirt">> a long skirt that stops just above your ankle.<<elseif $pants is "a pleated skirt">>a cute pleated skirt that stops around your mid thigh.<<elseif $pants is "a mini skirt">>a mini skirt that stops just below the top of your thighs<<elseif $pants is "a jumpsuit">>a full jumpsuit, <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "that you wear open">><<option "that you keep zipped up">><</cycle>><<elseif $pants is "overalls">>a pair of overalls and you keep the straps <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "fastened on your shoulders">><<option "one fastened and one undone">><</cycle>><</if>> <<if $shoes is "sneakers">>On your feet are a pair of simple and comfortable sneakers.<<elseif $shoes is "combat boots">>On your feet you wear a pair of heavy and durable combat boots<<elseif $shoes is "platform boots">>On your feet you wear some chunky platform boots, making you a bit taller<<elseif $shoes is "crocs">>On your feet you wear a pair of crocs, <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "with">><<option "without">><</cycle>> charms<<elseif $shoes is "dress shoes">>On your feet you wear a pair of shiny, tidy looking dress shoes<<elseif $shoes is "pumps">>On your feet you wear a stylish high heels<<elseif $shoes is "cowboy boots">>On your feet you wear a pair of rustic looking cowboy boots<<elseif $shoes is "work boots">>On your feet you wear some rugged and thick steel toed work boots<<elseif $shoes is "rainboots">>On your feet you wear a pair of rubber rainboots<<elseif $shoes is "ankle boots">>On your feet you wear some stylish looking ankle boots<</if>> Your attention then shifts to your weapon of choice as you inspect it further. <<if $weapon is "Knife kit">> At first glance, it looks like you're just holding a folded up bundle of leather, but upon unfolding it, it's more like a thick tool belt. A toolbelt full of various assortments of different types of //knives// A butchers knive, a scalpel, a few small throwing knives, a serrated knife, a butterfly knife, curved and wicked looking knives, knives you don't even know the names of..... You fasten the belt around your waist. <<elseif $weapon is "a Hunting Knife">> A //long// hunting knife with its own holster that straps to your thigh. Taking it out, the handle is contoured for a nice comfortable grip, and the blade is hard steel. <<elseif $weapon is "a Hammer">> You turn the hammer in your hands, it doesnt look like a standard hammer, the handle is slightly longer, the flat end is spiked, with the claw end elongated. <<elseif $weapon is "a Baseball Bat">> You weight the weapon in your hand, giving it a few test swings. The <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "wooden">><<option "spiked">><<option "metal">><</cycle>> bat feels solid in your hands, feeling just a //bit// heavier than a normal baseball bat. <<elseif $weapon is "an Axe">> You hold the axe in your hands, gripping its curved wooden handle, the edge of the blade is unpainted steel while the rest is fireman red. <<elseif $weapon is "a Chainsaw">> You hold up the full light weight chainsaw up to the mirror, and give the rip cord a good tug. //RRRVVVV RRRVVVV// Okay, yeah, it's pretty cool. <<elseif $weapon is "Brass knuckles">> You slide the brass knuckles unto your fingers, they fit quite comfortably, as you inspect your weapon you notice an indent on the bottom palm grip. You press it. //shnk// Oh! seems there's hidden knuckle spikes. Neat. <<elseif $weapon is "a Machete">> You hold up the blade in the mirror, giving it a few test swings. It's shiny, brand new, sharp as hell, and all yours. <<elseif $weapon is "a Hockey stick">> You hold up the modified hockey stick in both hands as you inspect it, it looked normal at a distance but up close you now see the barbed wire wrapping around it! <<elseif $weapon is "a Lead pipe">> You weight the simple weapon in your hands, it's heavy, and shiny, looks brand new really. <<elseif $weapon is "a Sickle">> The curved weapon looks positively wicked in your hands and fresh out of a gardening store as you give it a few test swings. <<elseif $weapon is "a Crowbar">> You hold the tool in your hands, it's a standard crowbar that you could find at any hardware store, but it's the perfect tool for your objective tonight. <<elseif $weapon is "a Tire Iron">> You give the lightweight tool a little spin in your hand, its X shape is a bit unorthodox but you're sure you can come up with creative ways to //use// it. <<elseif $weapon is "a Pickaxe">> You heft the tool up to the mirror with both hands, its weight comfortable in your hands, both ends dangerously pointy and ready to poke more than just an eye out. <<elseif $weapon is "a Shovel">> You rest the tool on your shoulder, the pinnacle of pragmatism. Great at both creating bodies and getting rid of them. And whatever digging or digging adjacent needs you may have tonight. <<elseif $weapon is "a Hooked Chain">> You pick up your weapon of choice, which is what seems to be a large, savage looking meat hook attached to a long, thick length of chain. Wrapping the chain around your hand, you cut an incredibly imposing figure. <</if>> <center>You're ready.</center> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "34">><</button>></div>

You jolt slightly when the speaker crackles on once again, The Host's voice greeting you, sounding chipper. <center><strong>Magnificent! Truly inspired choices! I am estatic to see the work you do tonight! Now, unto the final step before I turn you loose. Please humor me one final time. Due to the....nature of this work you do, I ask you to give yourself an alias, I certainly would not want you to get into any....//unfortunate// situations by using your legal name, you understand.</strong></center> Next to the final door, at the end of the room, a screen and keyboard flip out from the wall. The screen has a text input. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "35">><</button>></div>

---- <center><h1>CREATE YOUR ALIAS</h1></center> <center><<textbox "$alias" "">></center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "36">><</button>></span></center> ----

<<if $alias == $firstname or $alias == $lastname>> <center><strong>.......Ah. Hm.</strong></center> <center><strong>Now, $firstname, I do understand that coming up with a suitable alias for oneself may be difficult, but I do very much urge you to....well, at the very least not use your real name.</strong></center> You look up at the camera with a sigh. *[[You go to input your alias|35]] *[[You ask if they can just choose one for you|36.2]] <<elseif $alias is "Dupin" or $alias is "Holmes" or $alias is "Sherlock" or $alias is "Columbo" or $alias is "Drew" or $alias is "Lawliet" or $alias is "Conan" or $alias is "Gumshoe">> <<set $PIscore += 10>> <center><strong>.......Ah.</strong></center> <center><strong>.......Well! I do always adore creativity! And the.... //irony// is absolutely splendid. Fantastic choice.</strong></center> <<m_their>> voice is one of positivity but you can't help but notice something.....//odd// in <<m_their>> tone. You try to place it but <<m_theyre>> already moving on. <center><strong>Well, enough talk. Let's get you out there, shall we?</strong></center> The door swings open. You walk through. <<else>> <center><strong>$alias....</strong></center> <<m_their>> voice comes through as a hushed whisper over the speaker, almost....reverent in tone. <center><strong>Splendid. Absolutely //Wonderful//.</strong></center> <center><strong>Well, enough of my babbling. Let's get you out there, shall we?</strong></center> The door swings open. You walk through. <</if>> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "37">><</button>></div>

---- <center><h1>CREATE YOUR ALIAS</h1></center> <center><<textbox "$alias" "">></center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "36">><</button>></span></center> ----

There's silence for a beat. <center><strong>I....a-are you completely certain? I mean this is a very momentous occasion, and I would be remiss to take such an important moment away from you, I mean it is a very important desicion to make, one that certainly should never be left up to a third party- I could not possibly do something as such as to NAME you-</strong></center> *[[You don't care, you just can't come up with anything on the spot.|36.2.1]] *[[The idea of them naming you is actually....enticing? ♡|36.2.1][$THr += 1]]

<<timed 1s t8n>>//chirp//<</timed>> <<timed 3s t8n>>//chirp//<</timed>> <<timed 5s t8n>>//chirp//<</timed>> <<timed 7s t8n>>The sound of crickets greet you as you step out into the cool autumn air<</timed>> <<timed 9s t8n>>You're not sure how long you were inside, but the sky is black like ink, with lonely specks of stars, shining through like pinholes. <<if $under is "crop top" or $under is "fishnet" or $pants is "short shorts" or $pants is "a pleated skirt" or $pants is "a mini skirt">> The exposed parts of your body make you shiver from the sudden cold, though it's a bit too late to change, if you even wanted to. <</if>> You breathe in, taking in the sharp air, When you hear the sound on muffled voices in the distance, along with a faint glow through the trees. *[[You walk towards it|38]]<</timed>>

<center><strong>I....Yes. Right then. Of course. It is the duty of the Slaughter Initiative to aid in any way possible. Lets see.....</strong></center> <<m_they>> clears <<m_their>> throat, <<m_their>> mic is still hot, and you can hear....the rustling of papers? <center><strong>Alright. Hm...what about.....</strong></center> <center><<cycle "$alias" autoselect>></center> <<option "Ghost">> <<option "King">> <<option "Angel">> <<option "Fox">> <<option "Demon">> <<option "Snake">> <<option "Ares">> <<option "Aphrodite">> <<option "Fenrir">> <<option "Freyja">> <</cycle>> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "36">><</button>></div>

The closer you get to the voices the easier it becomes to pick up the conversation The first voice, and the loudest, it's hard to determine any gender from it, they're talking fast and it has a bit of a rusty undertone. ''//"This is TOTAL fucking bullshit! this fucker totally just wants to get <<m_their>> rocks off to seein us kill people! There's like a bajillion fuckin' cameras in the trees, like, who does shit like that?"//'' Another voice, more on the "slightly monotone but still annoyed sounding" side, feminine sounding, no nonsense with a subtle smokiness. ''//"Obviously <<m_theyre>> a freak, but unless you know where the exit is or you want to follow that other asshole into the forest, I suggest you stop fucking shrieking."//'' ''//"Girl you haven't even HEARD me shriek yet-"//'' A different voice cuts in, a melodious pleasing tenor, smug and silvery, somewhat bored sounding but still charismatic and strong. ''//"If you two are quite done with your squabbling- if you all haven't noticed, we're all standing here like imbeciles in the middle of a forest in the cold, apparently waiting for something or someone, like we all aren't each massively wanted by the police."//'' A fourth voice, lightly rumbly and baritone, soft and masculine sounding. ''//"Look, none of us like this situation, but we don't have much of a choice right now. We should just go with it for now, we-"//'' //CRACK// The voices stop. Five heads snap to look in the same direction. At you. You look down. *[[You stepped on a branch|39]]

Seeing as you've accidentally made your prescence known, you fully step into the clearing. It's a completely empty circular area, surrounded by tall trees on all sides. Well, empty except for the five individuals standing in front of an old CRT TV. The five //armed and masked// individuals. <<message '__The person with the mirror mask and knife__'>> A moderately tall person, What you can see of their skin is brown with golden undertones, with a smattering of tattoos, a pair of geometric styled wings on their neck, and a band of stippled lines around his bicep can be immediately seen. Covering their head is a full mask made out of cracked tiles of mirror glass, like a broken disco ball. They wear very clearly expensive looking designer clothes. A velvety looking red v-neck t-shirt, black jeans with artfully purposeful stiches connecting the thighs with the rest of the leg, sharply heeled ankle boots with red bottoms, and thick designer black gloves. They deftly and impatiently twirl a //long// kitchen knife in their right hand. <</message>> <<message '__The person with the flowery mask and axe__'>> A woman of average height, covering her face is a handmade mask that looks more like a flower arrangement art piece. Dried black flowers at either side of a wooden mask, multicoloured autumn leaves frame the dried flowers on either side and meet at the middle of the mask, just under the eye holes. She wears black lace up boots, extremely faded blue jeans, ripped at the knees, a thin grey turtleneck under a green flannel shirt under a long pale pine green duffle coat. Interestingly, she wears an immaculate looking pearl necklace. She has a relaxed hold on her axe in her gloved left hand, and a brown messanger bag slung over her shoulders. <</message>> <<message '__The person with the gas mask and baseball bat__'>> A fairly mid sized person, from the places that aren't covered, you see beige, lightly tanned, and freckled skin, slightly wavy dirty blonde hair with various traces of faded coloured hair dye streaks, reaching down to the base of their neck, pulled back and out of their face with a thin plastic purple hairband, they have various piercings on their left ear. Covering their face is a heavily modified gas mask, painted black and studded with metal spikes, the glass of the eyes replaced with green tinted mirror lenses. They wear a faded pink leather jacket with the sleeves hacked off, a black and white striped shirt under an oversized black band t-shirt halfway tucked into wide legged jeans with the knees completely ripped open, showing their fishnet tights, wearing ratty, mismatched black and blue converse sneakers. Completed with a red spiked dog collar around their neck. They have their baseball bat resting across their shoulders, the bat has nails of various sizes driven through the top, poking out in all directions, some nails look rusty, some looking brand new. <</message>> <<message '__The person with the blank mask that looks unarmed__'>> A very tall and lean individual, They have no skin showing what so ever, They wear a long black pea coat, thick, black leather gloves, a tawny brown scarf over a light grey turtleneck over black slacks and slightly heeled ankle boots. a smooth, blank white mask covers their face, it's only features being its black eyeholes. Their arms are calmly at their sides, and they appear to be unarmed. <</message>> <<message '__The person with the motorcycle helmet and sledgehammer__'>> A tall man, very bulky and muscled, what little you can see of his skin is a light brown, sunkissed tan. He wears a tan, sheepskin bomber jacket over a loose, grey-ish blue linen button up, unbuttoned and revealing a portion of his broad chest, slightly faded dark blue jeans, grey and white work boots. A shiny, red, full face motorcycle helmet entirely covers his head, matching the red leather gloves he wears. <</message>> *[[You approch the group in front of the TV|40]]

<<set $OD to "You've just met.">><<set $BD to "You've just met.">><<set $ELY to "You've just met.">><<set $SW to "You've just met.">><<set $CLD to "You've just met.">> The one in the gas mask flails their arms in your general direction as you approach the group. "HA! SEE! WE //WERE// WAITING FOR ONE MORE! So, how'd <<m_mx>> //'lemme see you murder through my creepy tree cameras'// bait you into this horseshit? I, personally-" Mirror mask interrupts them with an over dramatic sigh. "Jesus christ stop fucking talking. Your voice is like sandpaper to my ears." The person with the blank mask raises their hands, and starts signing to the group, their movements sharp and methodical. "It doesn't matter how we where all lured here, but we should make introductions before this...."Host" returns, so we aren't addressing eachother with blatant insults." The woman in the flower mask monotones back, you can practically hear her eyeroll. "Yeah let me tell y'all my social security number while I'm at it." Motorcycle helmet speaks up, shaking his head. "No, they have a point. We should at least have something to call each other. I'm Sweetheart. Or uh, well....that's the name the press gave me, at least." Gas mask bounces on their heels. "Ohhh //that// name huh? Well, they call me Overdose, OD for short. I've got my purple headband on so I go by they them right now" Sweetheart perks up slightly, nodding his head. "Oh! oh, right, I uh, go by he him" *[[Blank mask starts signing|41]]

"They've called me many things, but I'm most fond of the alias Cold. I am they and them" Overdose snorts "Did'ya say it like that b'cause you didn't wanna say //I'm Cold?//" "You do seem the type to make an annoying joke like that, so yes." Cutting them off, the mirror mask person speaks up "Mhm. right then. You all may call me //Elysium//. He they." Overdose snorts, again. "Woooow I can practically //hear// the pretention" "Shut the hell up" "No you" "Will //both// of you shut the hell up?" The lady in the flower mask snaps at them, and they both quiet down like scolded dogs. "Fine, if we're actually doing this, then I'm Black Dahlia. She her. Overdose rocks on their heels "Can we call you doooolly?" "Fuck no." "Noted!" <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "42">><</button>></div>

They all turn towards you, expectantly. <<cycle "$." autoselect>> <<option "The sudden attention making you nervous.">> <<option "The sudden attention making your hackles raise.">> <<option "You sigh, you guess it's your turn.">> <<option "You puff your chest, bolstered by the attention.">> <<option "You just nod, getting on with the introductions.">> <</cycle>> <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You sign,">><<option "You speak,">><</cycle>> *<<link 'Im $alias, Nice to meet you all! I go by $arr_they!' "43">><</link>> *<<link '$alias. $arr_they.' "43">><</link>> *<<link 'Uh- Im um....$alias? I-I go by $arr_they.' "43">><</link>> *<<link 'This is fucking stupid. $alias. I go by $arr_they.' "43">><</link>> *<<link 'I am $alias, a pleasure to meet you all~ I go by $arr_they.' "43">><</link>>

<span class="drunk" data-text="KSHHHHHH"><center><h1>//KSHHHHHH//</h1></center></span> Before anyone can react to your introduction, the static on the TV grows louder and harsher, before it finally settles on a stable image. A person, in a black suit with a red tie and white gloves, their hands laced together on top of a black surface. Their head is just out of frame at the top of the tv. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "44">><</button>></div>

<center>''Greetings, my esteemed guests! Welcome to-''</center> Overdose groans "God not this jerkoff again" <center>''Ah- um, if you could please wait until-''</center> "Wait holy shit is this live?" Sweetheart cocks his head to the side "Apparently? How the hell is <<m_they>> even streaming to a CRT in a forest?" <center>''That is a wonderful question, We-''</center> Black Dahlia sighs impatiently "Who the fuck //cares//, can we just get on with this already?" <center>''Oh, yes, we shall, thank you Dahlia!''</center> "We are not friends. Get the fuck on with it already." <center>''A-ah. Right. Yes. //Ahem.//''</center> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "45">><</button>></div>

<center>''As you've all been made aware, we at the SLAUGHTER INITIATIVE have invited all of you to participate in a game. This game, in essence, is to show off your individual skills in your //artistry//. These woods are currently full of targets in which to practice your skills on! Now, you may ask, what is the game aspect of this? Well, each target is worth one point, that is, if you play alone- but teaming up with your fellow participants is very encouraged! As, ultimately, the goal is to leave no targets left. We would love to see teamwork between you all. Now, there are rules, not very many but they are there to keep in mind. A point is awarded to either a team or an individual, so if a team kills two people they get two points, and individual kills two people, they get two points, so on and so forth. Those outside of the invited, ie, you all, are completely free game. Now I know that we have some....//strong personalities// here but please refrain from harming eachother. This will not net you points and is........//strongly discouraged.// Any questions?''</center> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "46">><</button>></div>

<center>''Correct, You will have ample means and opporunity to seek out your own targets. I will not meddle in your work unless you need a gentle point in the right direction, this forest is quite vast and I would not want any of you getting lost!''</center> Black Dahlia hums, tapping the hilt of her axe "When you say //vast//, how big are we talkin'?" <center>''This forest goes on for multiple acres, but do not fret! it is all mapped out and I have the equipment to monitor every inch of it, so if you require assistance you can call for it at anytime!''</center> Her body tenses, and the grip on her axe tightens. "You get how fucking creepy that is right? Multiple acres and you can see what we're doing all the time? What the //fuck."// <center>''Oh! No no no, I won't be watching at //all// times, no, but if you're in need of assistance-''</center> "Whatever. Just get on with it." ---- *[[What if one of us gets hurt or worse?|47q2][]] *[[Do we get style points.|47q3][]] *[[Can we loose points?|47q4][]] *[[Are we safe from the police?|47q5][]] *[[Is there a time limit|47q6][]] *[[What if we want to stop playing|47q7][]] *[[You wait for someone else to ask questions|47q8][]]

<center>''A very good question, As I am monitoring this forest I will be able to quickly react to any on field injuries, for less serious injuries I can direct you to a hidden infirmary, for more... serious injuries we at the Slaughter Initiative have a discreet team of medical professionals who can be sent to your location, whereever it may be.''</center> Cold begins signing, hands slower with hesitation "When you say discreet...." <center>''They are paid by the Slaughter Initiative and do not ask questions. There is no issue of your identities of being compromised.''</center> "......I see. And the 'or worse' part?" <center>''Safety for our invited is very important to us. if you ever find yourself in an overwhelming situation, there are hidden safehouses hidden throughout the forest. You can simply call out and I shall direct you to the closest one.''</center> "That does not answer the question." <center>''Preemptive prevention is the number one way to handle an issue!''</center> "......." They cross their arms. ---- *[[So, anyone that isn't us is free game?|47q1][]] *[[Do we get style points.|47q3][]] *[[Can we loose points?|47q4][]] *[[Are we safe from the police?|47q5][]] *[[Is there a time limit|47q6][]] *[[What if we want to stop playing|47q7][]] *[[You wait for someone else to ask questions|47q8][]]

You can hear <<m_them>> giggle, <<m_their>> gloved hand going up and slightly off camera, presumably over <<m_their>> mouth. <center>''There are no style points, but you do get the satisfaction of knowing at least //someone// saw you do something cool!''</center> Overdose twirls their bat around "Still creepy. But what, no bonus points for gettin' two in one swing? C'mon" <center>''I....well...we could um...institute some kind of recognition? I certainly wouldn't want hard work to go unnoticed!''</center> "Uh huh. we are 'artists' to you huh? Wouldn't want something good for the ol' portfolio to go to waste." <center>''Oh a portfolio! How wonderful, would you perchance let me see it someti-''</center> "That was a joke dickweed." <center>''Ah. Yes, of course. Obviously.''</center> <<m_they>> brings <<m_their>> fist up to <<m_their>> mouth and clears <<m_their>> throat. ---- *[[So, anyone that isn't us is free game?|47q1][]] *[[What if one of us gets hurt or worse?|47q2][]] *[[Can we loose points?|47q4][]] *[[Are we safe from the police?|47q5][]] *[[Is there a time limit|47q6][]] *[[What if we want to stop playing|47q7][]] *[[You wait for someone else to ask questions|47q8][]]

<center>''You cannot lose points no, afterall, you cannot unkill a person!''</center> Sweetheart drums his fingers on his helmet "So there's no penalties? What if someone gets away?" <center>''Well, these woods are quite thick. So really their only option is to succumb to the elements or run into another one of you all, so really you would simply be missing out on points!''</center> "And if these....//targets// start to kill eachother?" <center>''Oh no no no, these are just regular, average, run of the mill individuals- all quite boring in their ways, they would never!''</center> "O....kay You may be underestimating how people work under duress, but if you say so." <center>''I...Well-''</center> "We can just move on now." ---- *[[So, anyone that isn't us is free game?|47q1][]] *[[What if one of us gets hurt or worse?|47q2][]] *[[Do we get style points.|47q3][]] *[[Are we safe from the police?|47q5][]] *[[Is there a time limit|47q6][]] *[[What if we want to stop playing|47q7][]] *[[You wait for someone else to ask questions|47q8][]]

<<m_they>> squares <<m_their>> shoulders, clearing <<m_their>> throat. <center>''As long as you stay within the boundaries of the forest I can assure you that police prescence will be utterly nonexistant.''</center> Elysium continues flipping their knife, tapping his foot. "Is that so? And if individuals other than the police come in to investigate?" <center>''....Pardon?''</center> They click their tounge, crossing their arms. "People are awfully nosy at the worst of times. Say someone hears screaming from the entrance and are stupid enough to waltz in. Do they become another target? Are you going to prevent them from entering? What are the contingencies here?" <center>''I- well-''</center> "And if they come with reinforcements? Do we become responsible for all of them or not? I'm //listening.// <<m_mx>> Host." <center>''//Ahem// Uh, well, yes these things are accounted and planned for in case of emergency, I won't go over all the logistics at this moment, but rest assured that these things have been carefully considered.''</center> He lolls his head to the side, humming. "Hm. Is that so?" <center>''Um. Y-Yes?''</center> They start flipping their knife again "Uh-huh. If you say so //Darling.//" ---- *[[So, anyone that isn't us is free game?|47q1][]] *[[What if one of us gets hurt or worse?|47q2][]] *[[Do we get style points.|47q3][]] *[[Can we loose points?|47q4][]] *[[Is there a time limit|47q6][]] *[[What if we want to stop playing|47q7][]] *[[You wait for someone else to ask questions|47q8][]]

<center>''Well there is no hard time limit //per se//, The point is to clear the forest, I'd assume none of you would want to make this a multiple day event, You are all very busy people, after all.''</center> <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "You agree, You don't particularly want to stay here longer than nessecary">> <<option "....You're not sure about that. Camping out doesn't sound that bad.">> <<option "Your other option is potentially having to go back to working for Carter so you're gonna milk this for all it's worth.">> <</cycle>> <<message "”So What, we either take our sweet time or we rush around for your amusement?”">><center>''Oh, no no, of course not- You are all free to go the pace that suits you, As I said there is no real time limit, just have fun!''</center><</message>> <<message "”I mean.....I don't really mind taking extra time.....”">><center>''I am glad to hear it! Artistry takes time afterall, I would hate to rush any of you!''</center><</message>> <<message "”Do we just camp out? sleep on the ground?”">><center>''As you explore this lovely forest you will come across various facilities that are completely open for you to utilize, so feel free to do so!''</center><</message>> ---- *[[So, anyone that isn't us is free game?|47q1][]] *[[What if one of us gets hurt or worse?|47q2][]] *[[Do we get style points.|47q3][]] *[[Can we loose points?|47q4][]] *[[Are we safe from the police?|47q5][]] *[[What if we want to stop playing|47q7][]] *[[You wait for someone else to ask questions|47q8][]]

You immediately regret asking. The forest grows //deafeningly// silent. the hackles of your fellow participants raise, all of you suddenly on high alert. The Hosts voice comes out smooth, eerily calm. <center>''Stop playing....?''</center> Your throat feels dry as you swallow. <<m_they>> stays silent for a disconcerningly long time. <center>''......I see. It would be in your best interest to play. It would be a terrible shame to end our partnership early. As such, in leaving this forest, I cannot ensure your safety from any governmental bodies that //happen// to investigate the area. Or your safety in general, really.''</center> Elysium tightens their grip on his knife "Is that supposed to be a //threat?//" The Host responds, voice devoid of emotion. <center>''It is a statement. One that you can interpret in any way you please, //my dear.//''</center> ---- *[[You wait for someone else to ask questions|47q8][]]

The forest retains its silence, the tension like a thick miasma in the air. The Host shatters the silence <center>''Well! if that is every pressing question then we can-''</center> Black Dahlia cuts <<m_them>> off "No. Fuck this. I'm done listening to you and this horseshit. I'm out." <center>''Ah- Ms. Dahlia, please wait, we need-!''</center> She's already turned her back to the screen, heading the opposite direction. Overdose stretches their arms above their head, meandering in a different direction "Yeah, what the lady said, I'm bored. Bye." Sweetheart rubs his shoulder with a sigh "Honestly I'd rather just take my chances at this point. Later." Elysium claps his hands, voice dripping with false cheer. "Well! This was //fucking abysmal//. I will be taking my leave as well. Toodles." Soon it's just you and Cold standing in the clearing in front of the TV. ---- *[[You run to catch up with Dahlia|BD1]] *[[You walk with Overdose, matching their lazy stride|OD1]] *[[You hurry to Sweetheart, trying to keep up with his large strides|SH1]] *[[You hurry and trail after Elysium|ELY1]] *[[You glance over at Cold, meeting their stare|CLD1]] *[[You stay in the clearing as it gradually empties, leaving you and the tv|TH1]] *[[You walk out into the forest on your own.|X1]]

<sub>//Earlier in the night//</sub> You get why Carter dropped you off at this bar so late at night, you do. There’s less of a chance of there being a witness. People that run this bar don’t particularly ask questions. You know that. But how in the actual fuck are you supposed to find someone that’s up to his stupid ass “standards” in a shitty seedy bar like this? Here you are, sitting at a vaguely sticky booth just waiting for some poor idiot to waltz in, just so you can get paid by some asshole who believes washing your hands after using the toilet is optional. But just as you’re grousing about your night, your luck turns for the better. ---- *[[And theirs for the absolute worst the moment they walk in.|6.2.2]]

They’re pretty. Gender never matters to Carter as long as they’re pretty enough. You sidle up to them where they sit. <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "Plastering on a cheery fake smile">> <<option "Matching their dour expression in faux sympathy">> <<option "Batting your eyelashes and sweetening your voice until it's sickly">><</cycle>> You ask them about their day, their likes and dislikes, laugh at their lukewarm attempts at jokes, nod and coo at them as they spill their guts to you. But it’s in one ear and out the other, they give their name, and you give a fake one. They give you their number, you pull out your burner phone, make a show of typing it in. ---- *[[Their voice is just tv static now. You're almost there.|6.2.3]]

You say it’s getting late, they agree. You ask if you can walk them home, ''they agree.'' You don’t even need to walk that far, Carter’s already waiting in the alley. You “run away” when he “ambushes” the two of you, your idea, mostly to save your own ass just in case of witnesses. You think you sell it pretty well, you’ve gotten good at acting. You reconvene with Carter once they’re in the trunk. You drive off. ---- *[[The night goes on.|6]]

<sub>//Earlier in the week//</sub> The sound of your computer whirring fills the silence of your room. Click Click Click click You click through the various tabs you have open. Pulling up web pages of the bar Carter told you to scope out. Click Click It’s surprising that this bar even has a website, the place looks damn near abandoned. You click through the map of the area, taking note of the adjacent alleyways. You’ll go there in person, obviously, you want to be thorough. You’ll give yourself two visits to gather information, you don’t want anyone recognizing your face if you visit too often. You’ve gotten better at doing on foot work. Websites and raw data can only tell you so much as far as locations go. Your technological skill set is bigger than just looking places up, but obviously Carter never asks you to do the more fun shit. Hell, you could find Carter a target //right now//, but he insists on that “spur of the moment” bullshit. Whatever. You stand up from your desk, get dressed into something presentable but nondescript, grab your bag and laptop, punch the address into your phone, and head out. ---- *[[You’ve got a bar to scout.|6.3.2]]

When you arrive at the bar it really doesn't do a good job of convincing you that it’s //not// abandoned. Still, you persist. It’s a good thing anyway, less people to see you skulking around. You stroll around the perimeter, keeping a good distance away, mapping out its back alleys Drawing closer, you’re surprised to find out that this place //does// have cameras. Shitty and old cameras, but cameras nonetheless. <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "These things are cheap, dogshit cameras. Getting into their system and disabling them is easy.">> <<option "These things are cheap, dogshit cameras. And you know that these models have huge blind spots that you can exploit, provided that Carter can at least follow basic instructions.">> <<option "These things are cheap, dogshit cameras. Honestly you could just throw a rock at these things and you’d be good to go.">><</cycle>> There isn’t much else to make note of out here, You’ll visit the bar proper tomorrow, though you probably won’t need to. You see one shit dive bar you’ve seen ‘em all. But you will anyway, at least one half of this “team” needs to be professional. ---- *[[You’re done for the day, let's wrap this up.|6]]

<<set $achieve006 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: Venus and Her Flytrap<</notify>> The two of you walk next to each other in silence through the woods. The realization that following her away from the others and into the dark of the forest was probably a bad idea. ---- *[[You wave your hand to get her attention and start signing|BD2]] *[[You clear your throat to break up the silence|BD2]] *[["Hey, uh-"|BD2]]

<<set $achieve003 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: I Can't Feel My Face<</notify>> You catch up with them easily, they're not exactly making a beeline anywhere. They cock their head at you and start walking backwards to face you. <<if $mask eq "Venetian mask">><<set $ODnick = "fancypants">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah, $ODnick. Awfully fancy mask ya got there, real festive. Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- maybe that'll add to the look? I dunno." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Flowery porcelain mask">><<set $ODnick = "flowerchild">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah, $ODnick. Awfully pretty mask ya got there, it'd give Dahlia a run for her money. Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- maybe that'll add to the look? I dunno." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Dollhead">><<set $ODnick = "dolly">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah, $ODnick. Creepy ass mask ya got there, I don't usually reuse nicknames, but Dahlia didn't want it, 'sides it fits you better. Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that'll totally add to the look-" Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Monster mask">><<set $ODnick = "ghoulie">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah, $ODnick. Cool mask ya got there, real vintage lookin'. Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that'll totally add to the look actually-" Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Smiley face mask">><<set $ODnick = "smiles">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah, $ODnick. Cool mask ya got there, really pops. Bold, I like it. Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- maybe that'll add to the look actually." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Wolf mask">><<set $ODnick = "pup">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah, $ODnick. Cool mask ya got there, real fierce. Big bad wolf, I like it. Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that'll totally add to the look actually." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Ducky mask">><<set $ODnick = "ducky">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Oh c'mon, you //know// I don't gotta explain, Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- maybe that'll add to the look?." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Lion mask">><<set $ODnick = "dandelion">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Heheh, get it? $ODnick, dandy lion? Fuckin brilliant I know- Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that'll //totally// add to the look." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Bear mask">><<set $ODnick = "teddy">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Aw c'mon $ODnick, ya look like a teddy bear! A vicious, blood thirsty teddy bear! Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that'll //totally// add to the look." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Rabbit mask">><<set $ODnick = "buns">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah! $ODnick! Like bunny! Fuckin brilliant I know- Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that might add to the look, like that monty python bit- Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Plague doctor mask">><<set $ODnick = "doc">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah $ODnick, hey maybe if we get lucky we can find you a labcoat or somethin'.- Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that might add to the look, a whole killer doctor vibe- Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Goat mask">><<set $ODnick = "kid">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Heheh, get it? $ODnick, like a little goat? Fuckin brilliant I know- Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that might add to the look, get that whole Baphomet vibe goin'." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Cow Skull">><<set $ODnick = "cowpoke">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah $ODnick, hey maybe if we get lucky we can find you a cowboy hat or somethin'.- Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that'll totally add to the look, like a carrion cowboy or somethin'." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Blank mask">><<set $ODnick = "pokerface">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah $ODnick, kinda like what Cold's got goin' on, all stoic and mysterious n' shit. Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that might add to the look actually-" Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Skull mask">><<set $ODnick = "bonehead">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. Yeah, $ODnick. I mean I coulda called ya //boner// but y'know, most people don't wanna be called a dick in casual conversation. Mask looks cool though, almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that'll //absolutely// add to the look. Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Clown mask">><<set $ODnick = "bozo">> Overdose looks you up and down, they shiver and shake their head. "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah, $ODnick. And no offence but the clown get up is creepy as shit. But I guess thats exactly what you we're goin' for, huh? Gettin' blood and guts on it could scare the shit outta anyone I think." Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Bucket">><<set $ODnick = "buckethead">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah $ODnick, hey maybe if we get lucky we can find you some stickers or somethin'to slap on that bad boy. Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that might add to the look maybe?" Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Devil mask">><<set $ODnick = "luci">> Overdose looks you up and down, with a distinct glimmer of amusement in their eyes. "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers, voice sly, like they're relishing in their own personal inside joke. Uh huh, y'see me and Lucifer, we go waaay back, practically besties. Always happy to pay tribute, eh, $ODnick? Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- nah, blood sacrifice is pretty par the course, huh? Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Burlap Sack">><<set $ODnick = "'tater">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Uh, yeah, $ODnick, I mean ya got a potato sack on your head.- Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that might add to the look, Like some texas chainsaw shit-" Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Balaclava">><<set $ODnick = "bandit">> "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Sensing your confusion, Overdose snickers. "Yeah $ODnick, hey maybe after all this shit we could swing by downtown, rob a bank or two, Almost a shame it'll prolly get covered in guts and blood, or- wait- shit- that might add to the look, intimidation tactics or some shit- Overdose ponders this as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <<elseif $mask is "Gas Mask">><<set $ODnick = "twinsie">> Overdose looks you up and down, with a distinct glimmer of amusement in their eyes, You can practically see them grinning behind the mask. "So, $ODnick, ya never did answer my question" Question? Wait- //$ODnick?// Overdose snickers, voice sly. "Of course $ODnick, yours could use a bit more pizzazz but I think we make a fantasic couple'a bastards you and I. Can't wait to see your mask covered in blood n' guts, it really makes the look //pop//." Overdose twirls their bat happily as you both walk, impressively avoiding tripping over anything. <</if>> ---- *[[A nickname, huh? You like it|OD2][$ODN to 1]] *[[You really rather they didn't|OD2][$ODN to 2]] *[[Only if you get to give them one too|OD2][$ODN to 3]]

<<set $achieve007 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: Cherry Candy Fizzy Soda<</notify>> You let out a huff as you try and catch up with the man's large strides, you're nearly caught up- And you trip over a root and face plant //directly// into the dirt. Sweetheart whips around, finally noticing you. "Oh shit, $alias, are you alright?" You give a thumbs up from the ground, thankfully your mask prevented you from smashing your face in. Sweetheart crouches next to you, and you feel strong arms easily lift you, helping you up from the dirt you're currently faceplanted in. "I know I walk pretty fast, sorry about that. Do you want me to....carry you...?" *[[What|SH2]] *[[(you sign) What|SH2]] *[[Excuse me?|SH2]] *[[FUCK yes|SH2]]

<<set $achieve005 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: Kissing the Mirror<</notify>> Catching up with Elysium proves to be not all that difficult, his shoes don't seem to be all that practical for the enviroment. He isn't struggling, but he does seem to be taking it slow. <<if $shoes is "Pumps">>just like you are, considering your equally poor fashion choice.<</if>> He turns his head towards you as you approach. "Well hello there darling, so nice of you to join me on this //scenic walk.//" His tone rounds out into a sarcastic drawl, as they widely step over an exposed root in their path. ---- *[[You look him up and down, taking in what you can of his appearance in the low light|ELY2]]

<<set $achieve004 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: We Didn't Start the Fire<</notify>> You stand around next to them as everyone else walks off into different directions "..." They're just sort of....looking at you. ---- *[[Give them a small -awkward- wave and a smile that they can't see under your mask|CLD2]] *[["....Crazy day, eh?"|CLD2]] *[[You stand in silence with them|CLD2]]

<<set $achieve002 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: Playing Favorites<</notify>> You stand in the clearing alone now. Well, alone with a tv. The voice pipes up from the speakers again <center>''Well, if you are really quite sure about this.''</center> <<m_their>> voice sounds really....chipper? At your descision. <center>''I will guide you to the absolute best of my abilities-!''</center> You're unsure if this was a mistake or not. <center>''Now, first things first.'' </center> *[[Lets find you a victim, shall we?|TH2]]

You leave the clearing like everyone else, picking a random direction and simply walking, the harsh light from the TV slowly fading and giving way to moonlight. ---- *[[You actually want to work with everyone, you need to devise a plan to get everyone back together!|X1.1]] *[[You're doing this by yourself. How hard could it be?|X1.2]] <<if $PIscore >= 4>> *[[You know what you need to do.|X1.3]] <</if>>

<center><<if $achieve001 is true>> ---- <strong>Well coming here sure was an Acid-dent</strong> <sub>//Get your first dead end//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve002 is true>> ---- <strong>Playing Favorites</strong> <sub>//Choose The Host as your companion//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve003 is true>> ---- <strong>I Can't Feel My Face</strong> <sub>//Choose Overdose as your companion//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve004 is true>> ---- <strong>We Didn't Start the Fire</strong> <sub>//Choose Cold as your companion//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve005 is true>> ---- <strong>Kissing the Mirror</strong> <sub>//Choose Elysium as your companion//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve006 is true>> ---- <strong>Venus and Her Flytrap</strong> <sub>//Choose Black Dahlia as your companion//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve007 is true>> ---- <strong>Cherry Candy Fizzy Soda</strong> <sub>//Choose Sweetheart as your companion//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve008 is true>> ---- <strong>Fashionable Queer Friend Group</strong> <sub>//Decide to work together with everyone//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve009 is true>> ---- <strong>Top Dog, Lone Wolf</strong> <sub>//Decide to work alone//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve010 is true>> ---- <strong>The Final Girl</strong> <sub>//Gain a brand new obsession//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve011 is true>> ---- <strong>These Violent Delights</strong> <sub>//Get into a very weird.....romance?//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<if $achieve012 is true>> ---- <strong>Double Agent</strong> <sub>//The die has been cast. Your plans are in motion.//</sub> ---- <</if>></center> <center><<button "Return" $return>><</button>></center>

<<set $achieve008 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: Fashionable Queer Friend Group<</notify>> You trudge through the woods as you think. Certainly that wasn't the best of introductions, Host was //certainly// no help. You doubt anyone will want to rally under Host's banner, so you'll probably have to step up. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You like the idea. Being the 'leader'">><<option "The thought makes you nauseous. Hopefully you can let someone else take over.">><<option "You're indifferent, but you don't mind the idea.">><</cycle>> As you walk, it occurs to you that you have two options here. ---- *[[Stick on the trail|X2.1]] *[[Go deeper into the woods.|DOGX]]

<<set $achieve009 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: Top Dog, Lone Wolf<</notify>> You trudge out into the forest, wary of every camera you happen to spot. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You've been avoiding their line of sight best you can">><<option "You haven't bothered to avoid them, but you are keeping in mind just how //many// there are.">><</cycle>> But it occurs to you that you have two options here. ---- *[[Stick on the trail|X2.2]] *[[Go deeper into the woods.|DOGX]]

You've got a notification that your locker has a new "package" Carter must have dropped off the cash. You set up the locker after getting tired of having to find the unmarked box in an alleyway every. single. time. You swear he kept moving where it was just to fuck with you. Asshole. Your locker has your name and pronouns- *<<link "They/them." "14.2">><<set $mc_they to "they">><<set $mc_them to "them">><<set $mc_their to "their">><<set $mc_theirs to "theirs">><<set $mc_themself to "themself">><<set $mc_plural to true>><</link>> *<<link "She/her." "14.2">><<set $mc_they to "she">><<set $mc_them to "her">><<set $mc_their to "her">><<set $mc_theirs to "hers">><<set $mc_themself to "herself">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>> *<<link "He/him." "14.2">><<set $mc_they to "he">><<set $mc_them to "him">><<set $mc_their to "his">><<set $mc_theirs to "his">><<set $mc_themself to "himself">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>> *<<link "Xe/xem." "14.2">><<set $mc_they to "xe">><<set $mc_them to "xem">><<set $mc_their to "xyr">><<set $mc_theirs to "xyrs">><<set $mc_themself to "xemself">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>> *<<link "You input custom ones." "custom">><</link>>

<<gender $mc_they $mc_them $mc_their $mc_theirs $mc_themself $mc_plural>> You go by $arr_they The app also let you input more than one pronoun option. *[[Which you absolutely use|14.1]] *[[Which is pretty neat|15]]

she/he/they: <<textbox "$mc_they" "they">> him/her/them: <<textbox "$mc_them" "them">> his/her/their: <<textbox "$mc_their" "their">> his/hers/theirs: <<textbox "$mc_theirs" "theirs">> himself/herself/themself: <<textbox "$mc_themself" "themself">> Plural? (is/are) Yes <<radiobutton "$mc_plural" true checked>> No <<radiobutton "$mc_plural" false>> *<<link "Confirm" "14.2">><</link>> *<<link "Back to presets" "14.1">><</link>>

They let off a soft sigh, Look at the tv screen again, look at you, and begin walking in a direction, begrugingly beckoning you to follow. ---- *[[You're fast enough to catch up easily|CLD3]] *[[They realize you're lagging behind and slow their stride for you|CLD3]]

Suddenly she stops walking and her head snaps towards you. "Don't. I don't care what that freak on the tv said. I dont play games, I dont do //partners//, and I'm not going to say how high just because some asshole said jump. *[[She hoists her axe over her shoulder and starts walking again as you chase after her like a lost puppy.|BD3]]

You catch up with her again and quickly make your case. *[[Look, I hate this too but you at least seem less annoying than the others|BD5]] *[[You felt like the best choice out of everyone|BD5][$BDf += 1]] *[[I don't mean any harm, you just seem...interesting ♡|BD4][$BDr += 1]] *[[Oh, what, afriad I'll have to carry your ass so we can win? ❥|BD4][$BDRr += 1]]

<<if ($BDr gte 1) and ($person is "woman" or $person is "person")>> She stops, silent for a beat as she stares at you, then shakes her head and turns back to keep walking. "....Whatever. Just..." "....Just //don't// slow me down." Though....as she says that she's slowed her pace, and you match her stride easily. <<elseif $BDr gte 1>> She stops, silent for a beat, then scoffs, turning around to keep walking. "Keep telling yourself that. Just don't slow me down, idiot." Though....as she says that she //has// slowed her march slightly. <<elseif $BDRr gte 1>> She slowly turns to face you, cocking her head and popping her hip out for her hand to rest on it, her tone a sarcastic drawl. "Oh you //really// think you're hot shit don't you?" You like to think so, yes. You can practically see her eyeroll, Her voice spitting out like venom. "Don't fuck this up, the last thing I need is you ending up as ''//dead weight.//'' She turns away from you in a snap and keeps walking "Hurry your ass up." <</if>> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "BD5">><</button>></div>

You made the descision to have The Host guide you through this. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "And you don't regret that descision">><<option "You're starting to regret it a little">><</cycle>> This situation is....weird. You've become very acutely aware that not only can they see your every move through the woods, but their voice has very clearly and consistently been coming out of hidden speakers for the entirety of the time you have been walking Is every inch of this forest capable of being monitored? <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "That's....kind of impressive">><<option "That's so fucked up. What the fuck.">><<option "That's so impressive. They're a genius!">><</cycle>> <center>''Now, $firstname- er, my apologies, $alias-''</center> ---- [[You don't mind your actual name being used|TH3][$hdc to 1]] [[You don't mind your actual name being used...if it's by The Host ♡|TH3][$hdc to 2, $THr += 1]] [[Don't use my real name you fucking idiot.|TH3][$hdc to 3]] [[You're the one who insisted I use an alias, and you can't even remember it? ❥|TH3][$hdc to 4, $THRr += 1]]

<<if $eyecolor eq "green">> <<set $eyecolor2 = "emeralds">> <<set $eyecolor3 = "clover-colored">> <</if>> "I will fucking bite you." "Ooh, Kinky."

<<if $ODN is 1>><<set $ODNa to "Overdose">> "Yeah I know, I'm fuckin' brilliant." They puff out their chest, evidently very pleased with themself. They then slow down to walk beside you. "So, $ODnick, like I was sayin, how did <<m_mx>> Max headroom rope you into this bullshit?" ---- <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "OD5">><</button>></span></center> <<elseif $ODN is 2>><<set $ODnick = $alias>> "Boo, no fun. Fine, $alias then." They then slow down to walk beside you. "So, $alias, like I was sayin, how did <<m_mx>> Max headroom rope you into this bullshit?" ---- <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "OD5">><</button>></span></center> <<elseif $ODN is 3>> "Oh //reeeeaally?// Aight, hit me with it then, do your worst." *[[OD|OD3][$ODNa to "OD"]] *[[Deedee|OD3][$ODNa to "Deedee"]] *[[Odie|OD3][$ODNa to "Odie"]] *[[Dosie|OD3][$ODNa to "Dosie"]] *[[Blondie|OD3][$ODNa to "Blondie"]] *[[Annoying ❥|OD4][$ODNa to "Overdose",$ODRr += 1]] *[[Gorgeous ♡|OD4][$ODNa to "Overdose",$ODr += 1]] <</if>>

<<if $ODNa is "OD","Deedee","Odie","Dosie","Blondie">> They snort a laugh, slowing down to walk beside you. "Well I've definiely been called worse. $ODNa it is then $ODnick." "So, $ODnick, like I was sayin, how did <<m_mx>> Max headroom rope you into this bullshit?" <</if>> ---- <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "OD5">><</button>></div>

<<if $ODr == 1>> They stop walking for a moment, they bark out a laugh "Oh, you're //cute// $ODnick." They then slow down to walk beside you, arm just barely brushing against you as you walk together. "So, $ODnick, like I was sayin, how did <<m_mx>> Max headroom rope you into this bullshit?" <<elseif $ODRr == 1>> They stop walking for a moment, cocking their head to the side. They then walk up to you //quickly// and suddenly in your personal space, their voice lowering to an amused growl. "Oh I can be plenty more than just //annoying//, $ODnick." They stay like that for a few tense moments. Then they giggle, shifting to walk beside you. "So, $ODnick, like I was sayin, how did <<m_mx>> Max headroom rope you into this bullshit?" <</if>> ---- <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "OD5">><</button>></div>

Before you can answer them, you notice a dip in the forest floor, off to the side, with pavement. ....Pavement? You wave at Overdose to get their attention towards it "Yeah? wassup $ODnick?" They finally notice the road "......Huh. What the fuck. We haven't been walkin' //that// long, right?" Whatever direction they were walking before is swiftly forgotten in favor of the <<message '__//apparent road//__'>>The both of you walk down to the dip in the path and out of the brush. And it's.....definitely a street. In the middle of the forest. You look around, but theres nothing but trees on either side of the black tarmac for as far as the eye can see. "Well shit. Lets follow it." They start walking down the road <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "...Should you be worried about cars?">><<option "You feel...weird about this.">><<option "Why not, it's not like you're doing anything else right now">><</cycle>> ---- *[[You walk a bit faster to catch up|OD6]] *[[You walk faster and bump into their shoulder.❥|OD6][$ODRr += 1]] *[[You match their speed, brushing your hand against theirs.♡|OD6][$ODr += 1]] *[[You match their speed, grabbing their hand without hesitation.♡|OD6][$ODr += 1]] <</message>>

Dahlia scoffs and shakes her head, continuing to walk deeper into the woods. The foliage starts to thin out and you faintly hear... Music? Dahlia turns her head slightly, wordlessly glancing at you. The both of you follow the sound until you're both standing at an opening of a clearing, with a large lake situated at the other end. but above all else, you see //people// <<if $job is $drive>> You see tire tracks in the mud, but no car. They must have been dropped off and left to do whatever the hell they felt like. <<elseif $job is $clean>> The surrounding area is a //mess// theres garbage everywhere, some of it burnt, and theres a bunch of crap thats been tossed in the lake... <<elseif $job is $bait>> Theres three people, all around a campfire, loudly playing that one shitty pop song thats been on air on repeat for //months// now. Their clothes look expensive, like they're ready for //glamping// and not //camping// <<elseif $job is $info>> Three people, seemingly young adult range, possibly in college given the university of newcreed sticker on one of their thermos, all (presumably) caucasian. Upper middle class if not wealthy. No tents nearby that you can see, so they most likely have some sort of cabin. <<elseif $job is $all>> The place is a mess, burnt trash everywhere, tire tracks in the grass and mud, shit thrown in the lake...There are three people sitting around a campfire, they're all young, probably your age if not younger. Their clothes look kind of impractical for any actual camping, you'd be willing to bet that they're not sleeping out in tents. <</if>> After making your observations you glance over to Dahlia again. You can't see her face, but you can //feel// the malicious intent rolling off of her. She has her axe in a death grip in her hand. ---- *[[Shuffle a little away from her|BD6]] *[[Gesture to the group in encouragement|BD6][$BDf += 1]] *[[Your heart picks up in speed at the sight of her ♡|BD6][$BDr += 1]] *[[You can't help but smile excitedly "C'mon, lets do this." ♡|BD6][$BDr += 1]] *[["So, are you just gonna stand there and be dead weight?"❥|BD6][$BDRr += 1]]

"Or, well, I guess it'd make more sense for me to slow down than carry you, actually..." <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>> <<option "That makes more sense, but you'll definitely cash in your free piggy back ride later.">> <<option "That makes more sense, You are not a fan of heights.">> <<option "That makes more sense, your legs work fine and you plan to use them.">><</cycle>> "Well, if you're tagging along, I'm glad to have the company! I go on hikes in forests but, well, not like //this."// You ask him how he got "roped into" participating. "Ah. Well, I dunno about you or the others, but I got this weird, vaguely threatening email from.... our //"Host"//, I guess. I'd show it to you but the signal here is non-existant." Your brow furrows at that, and you take out your own phone, and sure enough- no signal at all, and..... Emergency calls are disabled? How is that even...? "I'm not one to bad mouth people, but this situation is...weird. Sketchy." ---- *[[If anything goes wrong at least you have your weapons|SH4]] *[[If anything goes wrong at least you have each other ♡|SH3][$SWr += 1]] *[[If anything goes wrong at least you can use him as a meat shield ❥|SH3][$SWRr += 1]]

<<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You're familiar with designer brands, you obviously don't have the money to even think about touching a piece let alone buying any, but you like to keep up with fashion.">><<option "You're not familiar with designer brands, but it's obviously high quality considering none of his outfit has fallen apart yet.">><</cycle>> Their V neck dips down low to the bottom of their sternum, revealing a not so miniscule swath of his softly muscled chest. <<cycle "$.." autoselect>><<option "You look for an approprate amount of time. You are NOT staring at his chest. ❥",$ELYRr += 1>><<option "You are absolutely staring at his chest and he is making note that you are staring at his chest. ♡",$ELYr += 1>><<option "The way his mask glitters in the moonlight is very pretty....♡",$ELYr += 1>><<option "The way his mask glitters in the moonlight is very pretty but you would rather die than say that out loud. ❥",$ELYRr += 1>><<option "Good lord, isn't he cold? A V neck that low in this weather?">><</cycle>> He snorts, apparently finding something in your silence amusing. He proffers his hand, his stance taking on an exaggerated gentlemanly bow. "Well, shall we, darling?" ---- *[[You wave him away as you step up to walk next to them|ELY4]] *[[You wave him away as you step up to walk next to them, but keep in a warm proximity ♡|ELY3][$ELYr += 1]] *[[You gently take his hand, giving it a light squeeze ♡|ELY3][$ELYr += 1]] *[[You scoff and push past them. You don't need their help. ❥|ELY3][$ELYRr += 1]]

<<if $SWr gte 1>> You can't see his face, but you can practically //feel// his body language brighten at your words. "We can count on each other, then!" He holds his hand out to you to shake, Which you take, even through his gloves, the man //seeps// warmth as he gently squeezes your hand, cutting through the chill of the night. His touch lingering just a //bit// longer than nessecary. <<elseif $SWRr gte 1>> His stride slows to a stop. His helmeted head cocks to the side, staring at you. Just staring. The visor on his helmet black and unreadable. He approaches you slowly, //silently//, the face of his mask next to your ear. He whispers, his voice a low, bassy rumble. "I know a lot more about //meat// than you do //dear//." "Keep that in mind." He straightens back up and continues walking next to you, like nothing ever happened. <</if>> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "SH5">><</button>></div>

"Right. And this is basically rigged in our favor, we'll be alright." It kind of sounds like he's saying that to reassure //himself// more than //you//, but he's certainly optimistic. The two of you walk for a while, <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "making small talk, getting to know eachother">><<set $SWf += 1>><<option "making flirtatious remarks ♡">><<set $SWr += 1>><<option "Him in silence, as you complain the entire time">><</cycle>> When sweetheart starts to slow his pace to a stop. You're about to question him, but you hear it. The sound of a campfire, and low murmuring voices. *[[The both of you scan the treeline|SH5]]

You both spot it at the same time. A campsite, with raised wooden platforms, keeping the tents off the ground, arranged in a circle around a fire pit. Four tents in total. A slightly shabby looking split gender outhouse <<if $job is $drive>> Theres an old pick up truck parked off to the side, poor condition, but seemingly still runs, looks like it really needs some serious matinence. <<elseif $job is $clean>> The campsite is in a small cleared out portion of the forest, surrounded by dense trees, not suprising that you didn't hear anything until now. <<elseif $job is $bait>> You take in the sights, it seems like a bunch of young adults, most likely mediocre middle class college students, set up camp for the weekend. <<elseif $job is $info>> You notice that despite the tents and cooking utensils, these people don't seem especially prepared for camping except for the basics of what is needed. Likely a first time camping trip. <<elseif $job is $all>> Theres an old pick up truck parked off to the side, it looks kind of run down, The campsite itself is surrounded by dense trees that muffles a lot of noise, the camp looks modest, and based on the college bumper sticker on the truck, you'd guess these are students. <</if>> As the two of you walk further in, you see two people behind the outhouse. *[[They're barely whispering|SH6]]

You can see her arm muscles under her coat tense, winding up tighter as she begins to stalk her way behind the group, but, as she takes a step, she looks over her shoulder at you. "$alias." <<linkappend "''Don't let any of them escape.''">> <<linkappend "She turns back, creeping towards the backs of the group.">> <<linkappend "You didn't notice it before, but, her footsteps are //startlingly// silent despite the forest debris.">> <<linkappend "You watch her creep closer.">> <<linkappend "The people laugh">> <<linkappend "Closer.">> <<linkappend "Someone playfully shoves someone else.">> <<linkappend "Closer.">> <<linkappend "Two people look like they're about to make out.">> <<linkappend "Closer">> <<linkappend "//Closer//">> <<linkappend "''//Closer//''">> <<linkappend "And-">> <<timed 1s>>''//THUNK//''<</timed>> <<timed 1.5s>>''//SQUELCH//''<</timed>> <<timed 2s>>''//CRACK//''<</timed>> *[[Laughter is replaced with screams.|BD7]] <</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>><</linkappend>>

The two of you don't walk very far before you see something strange. //A gas station.// ....A gas station, nestled in between the trees of an empty forest road. Overdose glances at you, as if to make sure you're seeing it too, they scoff in disbelief. "No fuckin' shit...." They look at you one again, tilting their head towards the convienence store "Up for a midnight snack?" <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "OD7">><</button>></div>

<<set $achieve012 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: Double Agent<</notify>> WIP sorry!! 🙇🏾‍♂️ <center><span class="next"><<button "Go Back" "47q8">><</button>></span></center>

One of the campers scramble backwards, her clothes getting too close to the bonfire, she screeches even louder as she tries to put her clothes out The second is frozen, still sitting on the log, eye wide and filled with fear. The third, whose blood covers Dahlia in splatters, slumps over, vacant and dead. The moment the body hits the ground, all hell breaks loose. The girl on fire runs towards the lake, Dahlia gives chase, but its short lived as Dahlia uses her axe's reach to slash at her legs. She brings her axe down on the burning woman. On the other end, the other living camper snaps out of his freeze and bolts towards you in a frantic rush, he's almost towards you, your instinct is to- <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "Freeze">><<option "Fight">><<option "Flee">><</cycle>> He drops to the ground face first. Blood splatters unto you. Theres a throwing axe embedded in the back of his head. *[[The clearing falls silent|BD8]]

The two of you walk up to the sliding doors, but just as you're about to step in, Overdose takes off their headband and shakes out their hair, they beat you to the question you may or may not have started to ask. "any pronouns, go nuts" *<<link "You nod as you step through the door with him.">><<set $ODG to "male">><<update>><</link>> *<<link "You nod as you step through the door with her.">><<set $ODG to "female">><<update>><</link>> *<<link "You nod as you step through the door with them.">><<set $ODG to "enby">><<update>><</link>> Overdose scans the store at the same time you do <<liveblock>><<if $ODG is "male">>he<<elseif $ODG is "female">>she<<elseif $ODG is "enby">>they<</if>><</liveblock>> walk<<s>> behind one of the isles, just as you notice a bored looking cashier behind the counter not even bothering to look up from his <<linkappend "magazine.">> <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "you look for $ODNa, <<od_they>> couldn't have gone far">><<option "......You do kinda wanna get a snack actually">><</cycle>> Just as you turn the corner you see Overdose, and- <<timed 1s>>//PING//<</timed>> <<timed 1.5s>>''CRACK''<</timed>> <<timed 2s>>''//THUMP//''<</timed>> <<linkappend "-<<od_theyre>> covered in blood and brain matter.">> Everything stands still for an excruciatingly long second. You see the cashier staring at the scene in front of him with wide eyes. <<linkappend "And then he //bolts//">> Overdose moves terrifyingly fast, before the cashier can open the back door, Overdose slams <<od_their>> bat against his neck, pinning the cashier against the door, laughing maliciously. "Aw, c'mon man, where's our customer service? I was hopin' to get a pack of smokes, maybe a lotto ticket" "F-fuck you, freak!" "Tsk, so rude, and here I was about to give you a tip!" Overdose kicks the back of the mans knees, sending him to the ground as <<od_they>> wind up <<od_their>> bat. "Oh well, guess we'll do //self checkout// instead" <<timed 5s>>//PING//<</timed>> <<timed 5.5s>>''CRACK''<</timed>> <<timed 6s>>''//THUMP//''<</timed>> *[[More blood. More viscera.|OD8]] <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

<sub>//A few minutes later...//</sub> You and $ODNa are sitting on the roof of the convienience store, with a plastic bag filled to the brim with snacks and candy between the two of you. They push their hair back with a purple headband They wave a pack of cigarettes. "You mind?" *<<link "You shake your head">><<set $smoke to 1>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "'Go ahead'">><<set $smoke to 2>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "You shake your head and hold out your hand for one">><<set $smoke to 3>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "'Can I have one too?'">><<set $smoke to 4>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "You nod, you don't want them to smoke">><<set $smoke to 5>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "'I'd rather you didn't.'">><<set $smoke to 6>><<update>><</link>> Overdose nods, <<liveblock>><<if $smoke is 1 or $smoke is 2>>Ripping open the pack and fishing around in their jacket for a lighter<<elseif $smoke is 3 or $smoke is 4>>Ripping open the pack, handing you a cigarette, and fishing around in their jacket for a lighter,<<elseif $smoke is 5 or $smoke is 6>> They pocket the pack, instead fishing around the plastic bag for snacks<</if>><</liveblock>> Overdose lifts up the bottom of their mask <<liveblock>><<if $smoke is 1 or $smoke is 2>>placing the cigarette in their mouth, lighting it with an old, busted up, gold plated flip lighter.<<elseif ($smoke is 3 or $smoke is 4) and ($ODr gte 1 or $ODRr gte 1)>> They lean over, lighting your cigarette with the lit end of theirs, this close to them, the scent of metallic blood mingles with the scent of the sugary candy, and their own subtle scent of tobbacco and an underlaying scent of pine and citrus. They linger in your space just a bit longer than nessecary when your cigarette is lit.<<elseif ($smoke is 3 or $smoke is 4) and ($ODr lt 1 or $ODRr lt 1)>> They pass you their lighter to light your own cigarette.<<elseif $smoke is 5 or $smoke is 6>>They unwrap a candy bar, holding it their mouth as they crack open an energy drink<</if>><</liveblock>> You observe what little you can see of their face. They've got a faded scar across the corner of their lip, and you can see a faint smattering of freckles. $ODNa lets out a <<linkappend "breath">> "Hey $alias, lemme ask you a question" *<<link "'Yeah? Whats up?'">><<set $q to true>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "'Please do not start with 'is a hotdog a taco.'">><<set $q to true>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "You sign 'Shoot'">><<set $q to true>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "You look at them, head tilted in curiosity">><<set $q to true>><<update>><</link>> <<liveblock>><<if $q is true>>"Do you believe in god? In the afterlife?"<</if>><</liveblock>> You think for a moment, a bit taken aback by the sudden question. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You do">><<option "You don't">><<option "You believe it's more complicated than humans know">><</cycle>> *[[Overdose suddenly jumps up to their feet, streatching their arms|OD9]] <</linkappend>>

<center>With Carter's death, $firstname "$alias" $lastname has now stepped out of his shadow.</center> <center>You will make a name for yourself.</center> <center>This choice will affect your dialogue options going forward, and who you will be.</center> <center> <h2>✣</h2> ''Apathetic'' You've grown detached to your, and others brutality. You come off as blunt, stoic and uncaring. No one can tell what you're thinking. <h2>✸</h2> ''Doormat'' These experiences have traumatized you in a peculiar way, you are a massive people pleaser, but you also may harbor a secret resentment for everyone around you, thus, you have grown paranoid. <h2>❀</h2> ''Bubbly'' You've developed a sort of sadistic joy in your heart, you don't take life, (or death, for that matter) very seriously, your motto is to have fun, and be yourself. <h2>✧</h2> ''Caustic'' You're cynical. Some may even call you bitter. Your care for human life has dwindled to nothing, your speech is mostly comprised of sarcasm, and you come off as blasé and irreverent.</center> <span class="next"><<button "Return" "after">><</button>></span>

<sub>//A few minutes later...//</sub> You're helping Dahlia clean up the clearing. <<if $job is $clean or $job is $all>> She seemed...suprised at how good at it you are, and you'll take that as a win <<else>> Though, "helping" is a strong word, you're more or less just holding trashbags open for her and moving stuff around when she tells you to. <</if>> You take a moment to observe her She has her jacket off -folded and placed on top of a log along with her messanger bag and axe- and has her flannel shirt tied around her waist and the sleeves of her bloodied turtleneck rolled up her forearms. She's curvy, and under that softness there is definite working muscles. The back of her head is covered in black fabric, most likely some kind of balaclava, theres a distinct bumpy-ness, definitely her hair, from what you can tell she might have them in braids. She sighs "That's the last of it." She turns and takes your trashbag <<if $BDr gte 1>> Her hands linger on yours just a little longer than strictly nessecary. She turns away from you before you can do anything about it. <<elseif $BDRr gte 1>> Though "takes" is a nice way of putting it, she more or less snatches the trash out of your hands.<<else>>Which you hand off without much fuss.<</if>> "Come on. I saw a recycle bin." Before you follow after her, you look back on the clearing It looks pristine. Like no one was ever there at all. *[[Like there aren't bodies in the lake.|BD9]]

//"C'mon babe, we took you out here to get your mind off of that loser"// //"Johnny, Ford isn't a loser he's just busy, finals are coming up"// //"So? Mr. Nerd supreme couldn't put down his fuckin' textbook for five seconds to go out?"// //"He's gotta study, He promised he'll get rich and take care of me Johnny."// //"You know I'd love you better than that freak ever could"// //"Johnny..."// //"Just for tonight. Bella and Mikey won't snitch either. Promise."// //"I....Just don't tell him, okay?"// //"Wouldn't dream of it, sugar."// They start making out. *[[You feel air grow tense, an aura of malice radiates from the man next to you|SH7]]

The man next to you is completely different from the one that was walking in the forest with you just moments prior. That man that offered to carry you, fretting if you got hurt. This man, however, stands tall like a monolith, gripping his sledgehammer with both hands, his muscles tense to straining under his sheepskin jacket, threatening to rip his thin shirt. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You hold your breath, waiting.">><<option "You softly whisper. //'Do it.'//">><<option "Your heart feels like its on fire from his intensity ♡",$SHr += 1>><<option "'Do it. End them, or I will. ❥'">><<$SHRr += 1>><</cycle>> <<linkappend "__Sweetheart takes one heavy step forward. Two. Three. You blink.__">> <<linkappend "__He's right behind the couple, sledgehammer winding back-__">> <<timed 1s>>''''CRUNCH''<</timed>> <<timed 1.5s>>''//THUMP//''<</timed>> The girl stares, wide eyed "a- ah-" Sweetheart lifts his hammer again. //"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH-"// <<timed 4s>>''CRUNCH''<</timed>> <<timed 4.5s>>''//THUMP//''<</timed>> *[[He's covered in viscera.|SH8]] <</linkappend>> <</linkappend>>

<sub>//A few minutes later...//</sub> You sit next to Sweetheart on a log in front of the campfire He twirls a hunting knife in one hand as he stares into the re-lit fire He holds a human heart in the other. <<if $job is $clean or $job is $all>>You offered to....//dispose of// the bodies for him but he said to leave them. You now understand why.<</if>> It's a suprisingly gory display coming from him, but he had cut out the heart with near surgical precision.<<if $SWr gte 1>> You had asked if he was okay, and placed a hand on his arm, he was tense, but slowly softened, leaning into your touch ever so slightly. He nodded.<<elseif $SWRr gte 1>> You asked if he was about to eat the heart. You're pretty sure he was this close to throwing the thing at you<</if>> Sweetheart stands up and mumbles, just loud enough that you hear. "Worthless." He tosses the heart into the fire, and turns to leave *[[The forest smells like burning meat.|SH9]]

You and Dahlia make your way out of the clearing, walking through the forest once again. In the silence, you get lost in your own thoughts You witnessed a murder. A murder not by Carter. You feel.....<<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "//Enthralled.//">><<option "//Excited.//">><<option "//Stunned.//">><<option "//Numb.//">><<option "//Nothing.//">><<option "You don't even know how you feel.">><</cycle>> Today as been odd to say the least, and the forest is probably the oddest thing of all. Does The Host own the acres of this forest? Do they really have cameras set up //everywhere?// //How much can they see?// Your thoughts are interrupted when Dahlia speaks "God damn it. I hoped this asshole would've walked off a cliff already" You look down the path. Your blood runs cold. *[[It's Carter]]

You and Sweetheart make your way out of the campsite, walking through the forest once again. In the silence, you get lost in your own thoughts You witnessed a murder. A murder not by Carter. You feel.....<<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "//Enthralled.//">><<option "//Excited.//">><<option "//Stunned.//">><<option "//Numb.//">><<option "//Nothing.//">><<option "You don't even know how you feel.">><</cycle>> Today as been odd to say the least, and the forest is probably the oddest thing of all. Does The Host own the acres of this forest? Do they really have cameras set up //everywhere?// //How much can they see?// Your thoughts are interrupted when Sweetheart speaks "Oh. Great. Him again." You look down the path. Your blood runs cold. *[[It's Carter]]

"Welp, thats enough using my braincell for tonight, lets blow this popsicle stand" You and Overdose make your way away from the gas station, walking through the forest once again. In the silence, you get lost in your own thoughts You witnessed a murder. A murder not by Carter. You feel.....<<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "//Enthralled.//">><<option "//Excited.//">><<option "//Stunned.//">><<option "//Numb.//">><<option "//Nothing.//">><<option "You don't even know how you feel.">><</cycle>> Today as been odd to say the least, and the forest is probably the oddest thing of all. Does The Host own the acres of this forest? Do they really have cameras set up //everywhere?// //How much can they see?// Your thoughts are interrupted when Overdose speaks "Aw fuck, not this cuntbag again." You look down the path. Your blood runs cold. *[[It's Carter]]

You stare. You're stock still. Your companion is talking but you can't hear them. He's staring. Carter's staring at //you.// He stomps over to you, grabbing your wrist, yanking. Something in your wrist //pops// and it //hurts// "You sneaky worthless piece of //shit// I know it's you. Take off that stupid fucking mask. Now." He yanks you again, pain lances up your arm. Your jaw clenches. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You try to pry your arm away, it doesn't work. The pain is blinding">><<option "You reach out, try to get to your only ally, he yanks you back. It //hurts//">><<option "You don't move. You know better.">><</cycle>> *[[You're dragged away]]

<center>You follow him through the thicket. Watching the back of his head. He has a death grip on your arm.</center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc1">><</button>></span></center>

<center>Your weapon feels heavy.</center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc2">><</button>></span></center>

<center>you're itchy.</center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc3">><</button>></span></center>

<center>You stare at the back of his head. your blood is roaring in your ears.</center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc4">><</button>></span></center>

<center>You're itching.</center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc5">><</button>></span></center>

<center>He killed them. Made you watch. Made you //help.//</center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc6">><</button>></span></center>

<center>Your head hurts. it's fuzzy. You can't remember.</center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc7">><</button>></span></center>

<center>It doesnt matter.</center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc8">><</button>></span></center>

<center>He killed them. left his memoir open on the page. he wrote it all down. left it there for you to see. He kept the newspaper clipping. He gloats about it. To your face. They were- *<<link "Your beloved">><<set $memento to $mring>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "Your best friend">><<set $memento to $mbracelet>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "Your family">><<set $memento to $mkeychain>><<update>><</link>> *<<link "Your world">><<set $memento to $mlocket>><<update>><</link>> <<liveblock>>$memento is all you have left.<</liveblock>></center> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "mc9">><</button>></span></center>

__<center>[[You stare at the back of his head.]]</center>__

<center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> <center>You stare at the back of his head.</center> __<center>[[You stare at the back of his head]]</center>__

__<center>[[You're staring.]]</center>__

__<center>[[Your blood is screaming]]</center>__

__<center>[[He is screaming.]]</center>__

<center>Be</center> <span class="drunk" data-text="Quiet."><center><h1>//Quiet.//</h1></center></span> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "kill">><</button>></span></center>

---- <<if $weapon is "a Knife kit" or $weapon is "a Hunting Knife" or $weapon is "an Axe" or $weapon is "a Chainsaw" or $weapon is "a Machete" or $weapon is "a Sickle" or $weapon is "a Pickaxe" or $weapon is "a Hooked Chain">> [[You drag your weapon the rest of the way. rip him open.|after]] [[You leave it. watch the pig bleed.|after]] [[You drive it in further. You want it to hurt.|after]] <<elseif $weapon is "a Hammer" or $weapon is "a Baseball Bat" or $weapon is "Brass knuckles" or $weapon is "a Hockey stick" or $weapon is "a Lead pipe" or $weapon is "a Crowbar" or $weapon is "a Tire Iron" or $weapon is "a Shovel">> [[Pick up your weapon and hit him again. and again and again and again.|after]] [[Hit him everywhere. break him.|after]] [[Watch him try to crawl like the worm he is. he'll shrivel and die on his own.|after]] <</if>> ----

The world slowly comes back to you as you stand over his body. Theres blood. There's //so much// blood. Your gloved hands are covered in blood and viscera. ---- *[[You lift your head and scream. Your throat straining to produce your howls as they pierce the night sky.✧|2.1Caustic]] *[[You start laughing. Loud, manic, and free. You struggle to breathe with how hard you're laughing.❀|2.1Bubbly]] *[[You start crying. You're shaking, hot tears spill down your face within the confines of your mask.✸|2.1Doormat]] *[[Nothing. You feel nothing. Numbness encroaches on you like insects crawling all over your body.✣|2.1Apathetic]] *[[You feel something, but your mind wanders...(♡?)|POVs]] __[[What do these symbols mean?|personalites]]__

Once Cold is satisfied that every ember has been snuffed, the two of you continue your trek deeper into the woods. In the silence, you get lost in your own thoughts You witnessed a murder. A murder not by Carter. You feel.....<<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "//Enthralled.//">><<option "//Excited.//">><<option "//Stunned.//">><<option "//Numb.//">><<option "//Nothing.//">><<option "You don't even know how you feel.">><</cycle>> Today as been odd to say the least, and the forest is probably the oddest thing of all. Does The Host own the acres of this forest? Do they really have cameras set up //everywhere?// //How much can they see?// Cold stops abruptly, sighing loud enough to be heard "Ah. //This// again." You look down the path. Your blood runs cold. *[[It's Carter]]

Eventually, the two of you (begrugingly, on Elysium's part) make your way out of the pavillion and back into the woods. The both of you invigorated from your little siesta. In the silence, you get lost in your own thoughts You witnessed a murder. A murder not by Carter. You feel.....<<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "//Enthralled.//">><<option "//Excited.//">><<option "//Stunned.//">><<option "//Numb.//">><<option "//Nothing.//">><<option "You don't even know how you feel.">><</cycle>> Today as been odd to say the least, and the forest is probably the oddest thing of all. Does The Host own the acres of this forest? Do they really have cameras set up //everywhere?// //How much can they see?// Your thoughts are interrupted when Elysium speaks "Ah, good, the boorish man has come to ruin our evening." You look down the path. Your blood runs cold. *[[It's Carter]]

Host continues to talk at you- "Again, I cannot thank you enough for your participation, and your company, this game will be //so// much more interesting with-" But they go silent halfway through the sentence. ....Odd. Looks like you're on your own again. In the silence, you get lost in your own thoughts You witnessed a murder. A murder not by Carter. You feel.....<<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "//Enthralled.//">><<option "//Excited.//">><<option "//Stunned.//">><<option "//Numb.//">><<option "//Nothing.//">><<option "You don't even know how you feel.">><</cycle>> Today as been odd to say the least, and the forest is probably the oddest thing of all. Does The Host own the acres of this forest? Do they really have cameras set up //everywhere?// //How much can they see?// Host's voice still hasn't come back. The silence chills you to your core. You see a camera embedded in a tree. A red light on it is blinking. //You've got a bad feeling.// You look down the path. Your blood runs cold. *[[It's Carter|It's Carter(TH)]]

In the silence, you get lost in your own thoughts You witnessed a murder. A murder not by Carter. By a "normal person" no less. You feel.....<<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "//Enthralled.//">><<option "//Excited.//">><<option "//Stunned.//">><<option "//Numb.//">><<option "//Nothing.//">><<option "You don't even know how you feel.">><</cycle>> Today as been odd to say the least, and the forest is probably the oddest thing of all. Does The Host own the acres of this forest? Do they really have cameras set up //everywhere?// //How much can they see?// The silence starts to grate on you. You see a camera embedded in a tree. A red light on it is blinking. //You've got a bad feeling.// You look down the path. Your blood runs cold. *[[It's Carter|It's Carter(TH)]]

<<if $ELYr gte 1>> He seems taken aback for a moment, as if he didn't expect you to //genuinely// walk with him amicably. They straighten up, clearing their throat, matching his pace to walk with you. "...Oh. Well. Let's see what these woods have to offer, shall we, dear?" His body heat is pleasantly warm against the chill of the night. <<elseif $ELYRr gte 1>> The laugh you hear behind you prickles at your skin. You stop to turn and look at them. They way he stalks towards you seems casual at first glance, but it makes your hackles raise nevertheless. He stops next to you, his head facing towards the darkened maw of the forest. "Take some advice darling, It's far better to have friends than enemies." His head leans into your personal space, their voice little more than a whisper. "And don't make enemies out of potential friends." They continue walking and you trail behind. <</if>> <center><span class="next"><<button "Next" "ELY4">><</button>></span></center>

You follow at their beckoning, angling yourself within the brush with him as he points. A tent pavilion, decorated with strung up fairy lights, rattan wicker furniture- is that a fucking full service //bar?//- all settled on top of a hardwood deck. Light jazz spills from the speakers hidden in the roof. A small get together of affluent people. <<if $job is $bait or $job is $all>>They're all dressed up in "rugged" wear that hasn't seen a day outdoors or in the mud until now, perfectly pristeen.<<elseif $job is $driver or $job is $all>>There are golf carts parked around the pavillion, each one branded with the park's name and logo.<</if>> Elysium looks tense, you have half a mind to ask whats wrong if you weren't so concerned about blowing your position, so you settle for just watching and waiting for his next move. ---- *[[And he doesn't disappoint.|ELY6]]

The two of you walk side by side through the forest, Elysium chattering on about his (overexaggerated) distaste of the current environs. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "And you won't lie, the prissy whinging is kinda funny.">><<option "And you won't lie, it's getting annoying.">><<option "And you won't lie, you've completely checked out on what he's even saying.">><</cycle>> But then, you notice. His walking has slowed, he's gotten quieter- until they've stopped talking altogether. He stops. tilts his head. *[[Elysium slowly stalks deeper into the brush|ELY5]]

Elysium creeps throught the brush silently with you at his heels, until you both stop at haphazardly parked golf carts. You don't see what he's doing at first, until- //pshhhh// Puffs of air, the carts slowly lowering closer to the ground. They're slashing the tires. One by one, slowly and methodically, as to not raise alarm. Once all the carts are disabled, he creeps up towards the edge of the pavillion, just barely out of sight. He inches closer and closer, the shadows protecting him up until the very last second. The shadows release him, the overhead lights glittering against his mask. They're right behind a man sitting in one of the wicker chairs, close enough that the man can feel Elysium's breath on his neck. !!SHNK SHNK SHNK Elysium stabs into the back of the chair rapidly, over and over again. Blood begins to bloom on the man's pressed white shirt. And before the others can react- ---- *[[Elysium vaults over the chair|ELY7]]

Elysium works fast, his movement more akin to a dance. Once he's vaulted over the chair, he lunges towards another, knife aimed right to the heart, tilted just so, slipping into the ribcage and wrenched painfully, hitting its target. A woman gets get wits about her, screaming as she tries to run to the carts. She's too slow. Her hair is grabbed and she's spun around as her throat is slit, left to writhe and gurgle on the ground. Another man runs to the bar, picking up a heafty wine bottle, brandishing it in front of himself as a makeshift weapon. Elysium casually walks towards him, avoiding the blood that is quickly slickening the floors. They tremble, shouting at their killer "S-stay the fuck away from me! Who are you!? D-did that fucker Archibald send you!? I'm not handing over the deed! It's mine fair and-" Elysium doesn't stop advancing, The man screams and tries to attack. His arm is grabbed, his knee kicked out from the back, making him kneel as he's stabbed through the side of the neck. The wine bottle dully thuds to the ground as the man drops. ---- *[[Smooth jazz continues to play.|ELY8]]

<sub>//A few minutes later...//</sub> You're sitting in one of the wicker chairs. Elysium is behind the bar, humming to the jazz playing over the speakers as he mixes drinks for the both of you. There's still blood on the floor, But the bodies have been shuffled off into a pile away from your seating area. It's a very....//surreal// experience. You hear the clack of heels and feel the sudden body heat of Elysium next to you, Holding out a glass. You eye it, and him, skeptically. "Relax darling, it's just juice. It would do neither of us any good to tramp around a forest tipsy." You take the drink from their hand, and they pull up another (non damaged) wicker chair to sit across from you. He lets out a sigh, crosses one leg over the other, reaches up behind his head, and you head a small click from his mask. Pulling it up just enough for his mouth. From what little you can see of his face, he has neatly trimmed stubble and full, soft lips, and a single monroe piercing. You have to ask.....What was that about? Elysium sighs. "I've had those targets on my "wishlist" for a while now, but couldn't get them alone. It seems our "Host" has more pull than I thought." ---- *[[The two of you spend time relaxing for a bit|ELY9]]

......The two of you walk in silence. The sounds of the forest seem louder than ever. You take this moment to examine them further. They're svelte, but solid. The muted tones of their outfit almost makes them disappear into the darkness of their surroundings, save for their mask, which stands out so much it's almost like it glows in comparison. Their countenance is relaxed. Odd, given the situation, and even odder given that you still haven't see a weapon on them. ---- *[[".......Do you....even have a weapon?"|CLD4]] *[["You seem kind of different from the others." ♡|CLD4][$CLDr += 1]] *[["You know you're really weird, right?" ❥|CLD4][$CLDRr += 1]]

The both of you stand near the cliffs edge, looking down at the campsite. A quick slide down and the both of you could be down there, right in the middle of camp, but it would make a lot of noise...they would have too much time to run. Cold cocks their head in your direction, presumably glancing at you. They hum, getting closer to the cliff's edge, fishing for something in their coat pocket. They evidently find it, holding it between their fingers to show you. It's a large, palm sized cylinder filled with some sort of liquid. They sign before you can voice a question "Gasoline." ---- *[[Your eyes widen. They just carry those around?|CLD6]] *[[Your eyes widen with excitement. This is gonna be so cool!|CLD6]] *[[You glance at them curiously. Maybe they'll let you throw it? ♡|CLD6][$CLDr += 1]] *[[You eye them skeptically. There's no way that'll work. ❥|CLD6][$CLDRr += 1]]

<<if $CLDr gte 1>> their pace slows as their head turns towards you, staring throught the blank eyeholes of their mask. Their hand movements slow. "....Different how?" Several things come to mind, they don't seem to have a weapon, they're //tall//, they keep to themselves, and they sign instead of speaking. <<if $mcsign = true>> Like you do.<</if>> But none of those things convey what you mean. So, in an effort to //not// sound stupid, <<if $mcsign = true>> you sign to them <<elseif $mcsign = false>> you say to them<</if>> "I like being around you more" ... There's a pause. Then a soft, rasping, huffing sound. Did they just.....//laugh?// They turn and continue walking, still signing "A grevious mistake in judgement, but I appreciate the sentiment." <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "CLD5">><</button>></div> <<elseif $CLDRr gte 1>> It truly is a wonder how they can convey bone dry sarcasm through sign language, but they manage it extremely well. "No, obviously, every single person on this planet is like me in every way, shape, and form. Now do you have any other brilliant observations? Any other stunning remarks that I should expect on our walk? Or are you finished?" "I'm just saying-" They walk slightly behind you, their prescence a //sharp// prickle on your awareness, just barely on the edges of it to put you on alert. "I would prefer if you did not. It would be annoying to get bloodied so early into the night." //Noted.// <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "CLD5">><</button>></div> <<else>> They continue walking, not looking in your direction as they focus on the path ahead, you almost think they didn't hear you, but they respond after a few seconds. "I do." .......You wait, but they don't elaborate further. Alright then. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "CLD5">><</button>></div> <</if>>

<<if $CLDr gte 1>> Sensing your curiosity, they hum and sign with their free hand "Perhaps...another time." <<elseif $CLDRr gte 1>> Sensing your skeptisizm, they sigh and sign with their free hand "Just watch." <</if>> They motion for you to back up slightly, and once they deem you a safe distance, they widen their stance, take a breath, and quickly wind their arm back, whipping the cannister directly into the fire below. A beat passes. And before you even have a chance to doubt, the night is brightened The bonfire //explodes.// With not only fire, but with horrified screams. You and Cold watch on as the people below try to put themselves out, and fail. Try to run away, yet still succumb to the flames. The smell wafting upwards towards you is sickening. The two of you just stand and watch for a while. Watch it all burn. //Watch them all burn.// But then....something is odd, you see- But Cold seems to have noticed as well, as they move quickly down the slope of the cliff. Someone trying to get away. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "CLD7">><</button>></div>

The shadows of the forest swallow them, you try to keep up with their stride the best you can. They move like a wraith, like they were born to traverse the gnarled roots without so much as a crackle under foot. Their pale mask is the only thing your eyes can see. It's baleful visage, an eyeless face in the dark. You watch as they stalk their target- the poor bastard limps further into the brush, limping, crying, and covered in severe burns, the only one from the bonfire that didn't immediately succumb to the fire. You would call it a mercy kill, if //anything// about what happens next was merciful in the slightest. They widen their hands, and you peek a flash of silver in the moonlight, a thin wire ending in sleek silver handles at both ends. It wraps around the mans neck before he can so much as notice Cold's presence behind him. They pull. The wire tightens. The man's strangled cries gurgle from his throat as he tries to claw at his own neck. They pull. and pull. //And pull// //''CRACK''// The man goes limp. *[[He stops moving entirely.|CLD8]]

<sub>//A few minutes later...//</sub> You and Cold are back in the clearing, stomping out any wannabe forest fires. You had asked why the two of you were even doing this, but their reasoning was solid, if the two of you were to be stuck in the forest for the night, it would be better if it //wasn't// up in flames. And you can't argue that logic. <<if $CLDRr gte 1>>Even though you wanted to.<</if>> <<if $job is $clean>>This was an...odd, type of mess to clean up. Carter was never //this// destructive, but this felt....different. New.<<elseif $job is $bait>>This felt...weird. Not having to lure anyone in. No lies, no charming, just pure and absolute //destruction.// Carter would be pissed at the charred, unrecognizable bodies.<<elseif $job is $info>>That split second calculation of distance Cold did was impressive. It was a moderately large target, sure, but if they had been off just a little bit, this would have been a complete wash. Carter would hardly, if ever, been so prescise- without your help, that is.<<elseif $job is $driver>>You can't help but wonder if this was planned, if they had saw the smokestack when the two of you were walking and lead you here, or if you just happened to stumble across this. You doubt it's the latter though, Cold doesn't strike you as the type to get lost, unlike Carter, couldn't find his way out of a paper bag with a compass.<<elseif $job is $all>>You almost don't know what to do with yourself. Watching Cold clean up after themselves with a real degree of competence, They could probably do this entirely by themself as well, and only offered so you had //something// to do. Had this been Carter, you're sure every aspect of this would have been on you, excluding any possible satisfaction of any sort of kill.<</if>> <<if $CLDr gte 1>>Lost in your thoughts, you stumble, and though you don't fall, you do feel the ghosting of Cold's hand near your back, just a slight brush of their fingertips as you re-steady yourself. For the first time in the night, you hear them speak, -more of a distracted mumble- a quiet, raspy, "Careful". Had the forest not been so quiet, you definitely would have missed it.<</if>> *[[The clearing is quiet again. The smell of burning slowly dissapating|CLD9]]

Your walk through the woods is filled with the sound of The Host's voice, just as you think you're getting out of range of a speaker, another one picks up <<m_their>> words exactly where <<m_they>> left off. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "This is so weird">><<option "you really appreciate not having to walk in silence">><<option "shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut the fuck up">><</cycle>> Suddenly <<m_their>> voice peters out, and you spot the reason why immediately. There's people up ahead, in front of a trail sign.<<if $job is $clean>> There are beer cans and other trash littered all over the trail, but you don't see any other possessions on them<<elseif $job is $info>> Your interest is more on the sign, you'll need to lead them away if you want the information<<elseif $job is $bait>> And they're definitely all completely wasted. Getting shitfaced in the middle of a forest at night is just asking for trouble.<<elseif $job is $driver>> You don't see any footprints off the trail, they must have come from the opposite direction, probably away from their camp<<elseif $job is $all>> You notice several things about the group, nothing that particularly flatters them as people, but what has you most concerned is that The Host is silent.<</if>> You feel a chill of dread in the air. Something's about to happen. <<m_theyre>> been talking this whole time, but now they get quiet? <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "TH5">><</button>></div>

<<if $hdc is 1>> ''Oh! Well, I am very flattered at your trust, but for safety's sake, at least during the game, I will refrain from using your real name. I would hate to have an unfortunate slip up at your expense!'' <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You suppose you can understand that. You really don't mind them using your name though.">><<option "You understand. Better to get used to being called that now.">><<option "You see the logic, you like the name anyway.">><</cycle>> ''I'm glad you understand! I will do my best to protect your anonymity and privacy, you have my word.'' <<elseif $hdc is 2>> They're silent for a moment. <<m_their>> mic audibly crackles, You hear shuffling. ''O-oh. W-well then. I appreciate your trust in me.....//very much so.//'' <<m_their>> voice lowers to a soft whisper, yet somehow still clear to your ears. ''Let it be our own little secret. //Would you like that?//'' Something in <<m_their>> voice makes you feel.... Wanted. //Desired.// Throughly so. <<elseif $hdc is 3>> ''O-oh. I am deeply sorry $alias. I did not intend to anger you. It was a mistake on my part.'' You hope <<m_they>> is taking this seriously. The last thing you want is to get caught for an easy mistake. ''Of course. The last thing I want is for this game to end prematurely, and for you- or anyone- to miss out on the opportunities I wish to provide. I will do my best to protect your anonymity and privacy, you have my word.'' <<elseif $hdc is 4>> ''Oh, my //deepest// apologies $alias. I //promise// this to you, that....//slip up// will not happen again.'' ....... <<m_they>> sounds //so// fucking condecending. They're talking to you like you're some stupid dog. Where the hell did this come from? <<m_their>> //giggle// at the look on your face comes through loud and clear through the speakers. <</if>> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "TH4">><</button>></div>

It takes a few moments, but the group drunkenly stumbles away from the trail sign....deeper into the woods. Off of the trail. Huh. The group seems completely oblivious to the sudden ominous atmospere, but they //are// now away from the information board. So you take a look. <<if $job is $driver>>The map outlines several hiking trails, campsites, ...hunting grounds? And other facilites....but oddly and frustraitingly, does not tell you where you //currently are.// Thankfully, there's a compass, so you might be able to sus out your location on your own.<<elseif $job is $info>>The map has standard park info, but that isn't what catches your eye, its the small innocuous squares dotting the map. You could hazard a guess that those are more bunkers and tunnels like the one you entered in from.<<elseif $job is $all>>You have seen a map like this before- when you first enter the park...but this one is a lot less detailed for some reason, it feels borderline useless.<<else>>The map is a bit confusing, but it does list a few trails....you'll have to figure out where you are on your own though.<</if>> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "TH6">><</button>></div>

You look around for a camera, which you find embedded in the map post itself, so you know that they //can// see you right now <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You wave">><<option "You flip them off">><<option "You consider trying to break the camera">><</cycle>> The drunks you saw earlier are //loud.// You peek from behind the post, they shove and drunkenly slur nonsense at eachother, one of then throwing an empty bottle at a tree while the others laugh as glass shards scatter in the grass. *[[And then all hell breaks loose|TH7]]

!!SNAP The first drunk gets their leg caught in a hidden bear trap. Their head falls directly into another hidden trap. !!CRUNCH The second falls into a concealed pit. You hear their bones break, their flesh impaled. !!THUNK The third is caught in a rope snare, They're pulled upwards, their head cracks violently against the tree. ..... The last drunk is shaking, tears spilling down their face, backing away from their dead friends while mumbling. //click// They've stepped on something. They're //sprayed// with something. And at first you assume it's water. Until they start screaming. Until their skin starts peeling. Until their screams turn into bloody gurgling. They drop to the ground. *[[And you stand in silence.|TH8]]

<sub>//A few minutes later...//</sub> Host is chattering away again like absolutely nothing happened. But you are aware that they are using the speakers to lead you away from the crime scene, You saw what looks like masked park employees in red jumpsuits cleaning up the bodies. You focus back in on <<m_their>> voice when it lowers down to a contented purr "I do hope you enjoyed yourself, mon ange." So all that //was// on purpose. What is <<m_their>> goal with this? "I'm just trying to show what I can do with this...//arrangement.//" <<cycle "$cycle" autoselect>><<option "....is <<m_they>> flirting with you??">><<option "....is <<m_they>> threatening you??">><<option "....is <<m_they>> advertizing to you??">><</cycle>> ....After they just killed four people?? *[[Host giggles at your confusion|TH9]]

You decide to stick to the trail, The last thing you want is to run into a bear because you wandered too far. You walk for a while, thinking to yourself. About your current situation. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You'll play Host's game. the opportunity is too good to pass up.">><<option "You'll play Host's game. You can't live under Carter's thumb anymore.">><<option "You won't play Host's game. The thought of actually taking a life yourself makes you feel sick.">><<option "You won't play Host's game. You'd just be trading one cage for another.">><</cycle>> Stuck in your own thoughts, you fail to notice the sounds of life until you're at the opening of a clearing. ---- *[[There are people.|X3.2]]

You hear the sound of music playing over a speaker. You walk around the perimeter in the treeline, just out of sight. There's a large lake situated in the middle of the clearing, with it's own wooden dock. but more importantly, you see //people// <<if $job is $drive>> You see tire tracks in the mud, but no car. A bunch of college students must have been dropped off and left to do whatever the hell they felt like. All from the local college from the looks of it, NU, Newcreed University. <<elseif $job is $clean>> The surrounding area is a //mess// theres garbage everywhere, some of it burnt, and theres a bunch of crap thats been tossed in the lake...Mostly beer cans and vodka that's almost too sugary to be considered liquor. And a bunch of Newcreed university themed party favors <<elseif $job is $bait>> There's several people, all around a campfire, loudly playing that one shitty pop song thats been on air on repeat for //months// now. Their clothes look expensive, like they're ready for //glamping// and not //camping//. They're definitely Newcreed U students, The stuck up ones at that. <<elseif $job is $info>> Several people, seemingly young adult range, possibly in college given the university of newcreed sticker on one of their thermos, all (presumably) caucasian. Upper middle class if not wealthy. No tents nearby that you can see, so they most likely have some sort of cabin. <<elseif $job is $all>> The place is a mess, burnt trash everywhere, tire tracks in the grass and mud, shit thrown in the lake...There are several people sitting around a campfire, they're all young, probably around your age if not definitely younger, college aged. Their clothes look kind of impractical for any actual camping, you'd be willing to bet that they're not sleeping out in tents. Seems like Newcreed Uni is having a little outing. <</if>> You look around, and everyone seems to be converged around one person. ---- *[[He's blond, smiling at everyone, laughing along airily at every joke.|X4.2][$AG to "male"]] *[[She's blonde, silently looking on with complete indifference at the chatter.|X4.2][$AG to "female"]]

<<set $achieve010 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: The Final "Girl"<</notify>> <<if $AG is "female">> She looks on at the group from her camping chair throne, like a queen surveying her court. She looks entirely and purposefully unapprochable. Long, wavy blonde hair, parted in the middle and framing her face, which, now that you pay attention, is dyed, if the creeping in of visible dark brown roots are anything to go by. There is a distinct boredom plain to see in her deep blue eyes, a sharpness that contrasts with the perfect angelic symmetry of her face and the soft slope of her button nose. She wears a soft and fuzzy white Newcreed University sweater, what looks like her cheer skirt, the colors of the school, pine green with white stripes, and pristeen white tennis shoes. "AURORA!" Some guy -a football player, if the varsity jacket is anything to go by- stomps up to the group, visibly unstable on his feet, with a beer bottle in his hand. <<elseif $AG is "male">> He sits on a camping chair, his fellow students leaning towards him like he has his own magnetic field, clamouring to hear every word that comes out of his mouth. His teeth are perfect as he throws out smiles to those who vie for his attention. Short, wavy blond hair, styled in a short middle part and artfully messy, which, now that you pay attention, is dyed, if the creeping in of visible dark brown roots are anything to go by. There is an odd canniness hidden in his deep blue eyes, a sharpness that contrasts with the perfect angelic symmetry of his face and the strong bridge of his nose He wears a soft and fuzzy white Newcreed University sweater, what looks like his cheer shorts, the colors of the school, pine green with white stripes, and pristeen white tennis shoes. "ADRIAN!" Some guy -a football player, if the varsity jacket is anything to go by- stomps up to the group, visibly unstable on his feet, with a beer bottle in his hand. <</if>> ---- *[[The clearing goes silent|X5.2]]

Before anyone can react, the football player starts drunkenly cussing <<a_them>> out, pushing past <<a_their>> clique, trying, in vain, to reach <<a_them>>. <<a_they>> holds up <<a_their>> hand, <<if $AG is "female">>her face unemotive, but on the verge of a scowl. <<elseif $AG is "male">>shooting a quick smile to the rest of the group,<</if>> <<a_they>> stands up from the chair and approaches the agitated jock. "I'll talk with you Derek, just stop shouting." <<a_they>> whispers something else, but you're too far away to hear it. The two of them walk away from the group, towards the lake dock. You carefully adjust your position in the trees to hear their conversation better. The two of them stand at the edge of the dock, <<a_name>>'s back facing towards the rest of the dock. ---- *[[The conversation isn't friendly|X6.2]]

<<if $AG is "female">> "What the fuck is your problem this time Derek?" "My fuckin' problem is you, bitch." "Tell me something fucking new." "You go around here like a stuck up cunt, thinking that you fucking own everything." "Keep your fucking voice down. Now, are there any other brilliant thoughts in that pea sized brain of yours, or are you using the beer filling your skull to think now?" "Fuck you slut." "Charming. So I'm somehow a slut now because I wouldn't fuck you?" "Whatever. Everyone knows you only got cheer captain 'cause your mom fucked-" Aurora pushes him into the water. <<elseif $AG is "male">> "What the fuck is your problem this time Derek?" "My fuckin' problem is you, jerkoff." "Tell me something fucking new." "You get buddy buddy with everyone so now everyone thinks you're the fuckin' new messiah. "Keep your fucking voice down. Now, are there any other brilliant thoughts in that pea sized brain of yours, or are you using the beer filling your skull to think now?" "Fuck you freak" "Charming. So I'm the freak when //you're// the one who kissed //me?//" "Whatever. Everyone knows you only got cheer captain 'cause you're a fa-" Adrian pushes him into the water. <</if>> The jock sinks like a stone. Either too drunk to try and swim back up, or in shock from the freezing water. Or both. <<a_name>> just stands there. Staring into the water where the jock sank. <<a_they>> starts to calmly turn on <<a_their>> heel and walks back to <<a_their>> friends. But <<a_they>> freezes. Looking into the trees. Looking at //you.// ---- <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Next" "X7.2">><</button>></div>

<sub>//A few minutes later...//</sub> <<a_name>> is back with the group. <<a_theyre>> explained away Derek's disappearance, claiming that he went back to the lodge to sleep off the alcohol. No one questions it. But every so often, <<a_they>> looks into the treeline, making eye contact with you. <<a_they>> knows that you know. That you //saw.// And <<a_they>> doesn't look happy about it. You watch the group for a long while, before eventually retreating back into the forest. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You think you're in love ❣">><<$AO += 1>><<option "A very interesting development. It look like Host was wrong.">><</cycle>> *[[You walk alone, head filled with thoughts|X9]]

<center>✣ Apathetic choice ✣ ✸ Doormat choice ✸ ❀ Bubbly choice ❀ ✧ Caustic choice ✧ ♡ Romantic choice ♡ ❥ Antagonistic Romantic choice ❥ ◇ Specialty specific choice ◇</center> ❣ Obsession ❣

Dahlia stares after where you were just pulled deeper into the forest. Disgust roils in her stomach. She is acutely aware that her jaw has tightened, that her breathing has quickened against her will. She hates this. She shouldn't care. //Doesn't.// But she's still rooted in the spot you were taken from her. She tries to will her limbs to move, to rip through the forest as she always has, disregard everything that doesn't matter. You are a distraction. A disruption. //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// She can't help that her body untenses when the scream she hears isn't yours. She can't help the relief that floods her body, though she may deny her worry, her concern. For //you.// She shakes her head, pulling the brief, tepid smile she allowed herself behind her mask back down into a scowl.

Overdose tromps through the tall grass and roots. They waited too long to follow. Son of a fucking bitch. They should have pulled you back towards them. Fuck. //FUCK// It's too dark in these stupid //fucking// woods. Their breathing gets faster. More labored. They stop and press their back against a tree, not this shit again. //Not right now.// They grip the handle of their bat, the tremble in their hands lessens. They close their eyes. Breathe. //Breathe.// //Decem, nove, ocho, sept, sechs, pięć, four, tres, due, uno.// Their breath shakes as they exhale. //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// The painful buzzing in their head slows. Stops. The tension in their shoulders gradually fades. Right. You can take care of yourself, duh. You don't //need// them. No use in getting worked up over nothing.

Sweetheart's head snaps back to where that man had dragged you away. Should.....should he have done something? Was this an......//issue?// The feeling made him sick to his stomach. It's reminding him of things he's tried very hard to forget. Maybe he shouldn't have forgotten. Maybe this wouldn't have happened. He should have paid closer attention to where you got dragged off to, stupid, //stupid//- damn it. He- //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// All his thoughts stopped in that moment. His mind calm. a slow smile crept upon his face. It was okay. You seemed to be just fine. Everything was okay. He's happy for you.

God damn it. God //fucking// damn it. Elysium should have gone after you. It isn't like them to freeze like that, he hasn't done that since....Fuck, nevermind, that doesn't matter right now. He feels....responsible for you. They shouldn't, and they know they shouldn't. But old habits are hard to shake. His heel catches on an exposed root, he stumbles but manages to keep upright. He hates this. He hates this fucking forest and he's growing to hate this pompous fuck of a "Host". If they're as rich as they say they are, then Elysium is going to have to do some //digging// into his fellow affluent peers once he has cell service. //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// Elysium stops. That was the voice of that greasy fuck that pulled you from him. He lets out a sigh of relief, mentally scolding himself for being a worrywart for a person they barely know. They forcably slow their pace as they walk, their air of nonchalance slotting back into place over them.

They hate this. Cold has never been a person who has paid much heed to others. That was purposeful. The closer you get to other people, the more liability it poses, the more prone one is to making stupid and emotionally charged desicions without regard to future consequences. And yet their hands twitch. They want to start popping their knuckles. A habit of nerves they thought they stamped out a long time ago. They feel a scowl ripping across their face as they lock their muscles, stopping themselves from following the path that man had taken you. //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// Their body immediately untenses involantarily when the scream sounds. Same voice as the man who took you. Not yours. Obviously. They disregard the hammering of their heart as they continue deeper into the forest.

<<set $CarterRel to $CDead>> The dust settles. You stand there, looming over the mangled corpse of Carter Abernathy. You have rendered him completely unrecognizable. You are drenched in his blood. Through the haze of your derangement, your throat feels scratched and raw from screaming, the acerbic hatred in your heart mellows out into a sharp prickle against your senses, as your brain comes down from its high of madness, you start to actually think about what you've just done. ---- *[[You start to dry heave, you feel sick just looking at this.|end][$ch1 to 1]] *[[You start to dry heave, you feel sick, looking at what you've done to him. You didn't mean to do this.|end][$guilt to 1, $ch1 to 2]] *[[You feel a sense of peace and unbrideled joy that you haven't felt in a long time.|end][$ch1 to 3]] *[[You don't feel much of anything. Maybe a little tired.|end][$ch1 to 4]] *[[You feel nothing. You stare at his mangled body and you feel nothing.|end][$ch1 to 5]] *[[You feel panicked and angry at yourself, What the hell did you just do!?|end][$ch1 to 6]]

<<if $ch1 is 1>> <<elseif $ch1 is 2>> <<elseif $ch1 is 3>> <<elseif $ch1 is 4>> <<elseif $ch1 is 5>> <<elseif $ch1 is 6>> <</if>>

//Your vision swims.// Your cheek is pressed against cold concrete. jagged pebbles scraping against your face like little knives. You barely feel it though. Not when you can feel blood trickling against your scalp. Your head is pounding. Your vision is doubled. You're so dizzy you want to throw up. You slowly lift yourself up from the ground. Your heart drops as your hand meets a pool of blood. <<if $memento is $mring>> The love of your life lays beside you, growing colder. Their ring is stained with blood, slipping from their limp hand. <<elseif $memento is $mbracelet>> Your best friend lays beside you, growing colder. Their friendship bracelet is stained with blood, slipping from their limp hand. <<elseif $memento is $mkeychain>> Your closest kin lays beside you, growing colder. Their favorite keychain is stained with blood, slipping from their limp hand. <<elseif $memento is $mlocket>> The only person who truly understood you lays beside you, growing colder. Their locket is stained with blood, slipping from their limp hand.<</if>> A pair of mud crusted boots interrupts your line of vision. It's ''Him.'' <<if $CarterRel is $CUnc>> Your uncle. It's your fucking //uncle.// He did this to you. Why would he do this to you? You're family. Why. //Why?//<<elseif $CarterRel is $CDebt>> The man you owe money to. He told you that you had time. That he could wait. That there was no rush. He's a liar. He's a fucking liar. <<elseif $CarterRel is $CFriend>> Your friend. He said you were friends. You laughed together. You've gotten drinks with him more times than you can count. Why would he do this to you? <<elseif $CarterRel is $CMail>> That son of a bitch that knows too much. Why? You gave him everything he asked for. But he's still taking the last thing you had. <</if>> He wheezes a laugh as he crouches down to look at you through that ugly, dirty, baby faced mask. "Sturdy son of a bitch, aren't ya?" He yanks you up by your $hair hair. A shock of pain explodes behind your eyes. "C'mon. You're gonna help me out tonight, $firstname." The last thing you see before you're dragged away is a streetlamp security camera pointed directly at the scene. Red eye blinking. You can only hope someone will save you from this nightmare. <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Return" "after">><</button>></div>

WIP sorry!! 🙇🏾‍♂️ <center><span class="next"><<button "Go Back" "47q8">><</button>></span></center>

<<set $CarterRel to $CDead>> The dust settles. You stand there, looming over the mangled corpse of Carter Abernathy. You have rendered him completely unrecognizable. You are drenched in his blood. Your laughter eventually abates down to deranged giggles. You feel sweaty and out of breath, a faint feeling of dizziness prodding at your brain as your manic high starts to come down, you start to actually think about what you've just done. ---- *[[You start to dry heave, you feel sick just looking at this.|end][$ch1 to 1]] *[[You start to dry heave, you feel sick, looking at what you've done to him. You didn't mean to do this.|end][$guilt to 1, $ch1 to 2]] *[[You feel a sense of peace and unbrideled joy that you haven't felt in a long time.|end][$ch1 to 3]] *[[You don't feel much of anything. Maybe a little tired.|end][$ch1 to 4]] *[[You feel nothing. You stare at his mangled body and you feel nothing.|end][$ch1 to 5]] *[[You feel panicked and angry at yourself, What the hell did you just do!?|end][$ch1 to 6]]

<<set $CarterRel to $CDead>> The dust settles. You stand there, looming over the mangled corpse of Carter Abernathy. You have rendered him completely unrecognizable. You are drenched in his blood. Your breathing quickens. Your eyes dart around the tree line, oh god, did anyone see? You're fucked. You're so //fucked//. You've ruined everything. A wave of sheer panic hits you like ice water, your hands tremble as you look at the bloodied weapon in your hands. Eventually your breathing evens out enough for you to actually think about what you've just done. ---- *[[You start to dry heave, you feel sick just looking at this.|end][$ch1 to 1]] *[[You start to dry heave, you feel sick, looking at what you've done to him. You didn't mean to do this.|end][$guilt to 1, $ch1 to 2]] *[[You feel a sense of peace and unbrideled joy that you haven't felt in a long time.|end][$ch1 to 3]] *[[You don't feel much of anything. Maybe a little tired.|end][$ch1 to 4]] *[[You feel nothing. You stare at his mangled body and you feel nothing.|end][$ch1 to 5]] *[[You feel panicked and angry at yourself, What the hell did you just do!?|end][$ch1 to 6]]

<<set $CarterRel to $CDead>> The dust settles. You stand there, looming over the mangled corpse of Carter Abernathy. You have rendered him completely unrecognizable. You are drenched in his blood. The prickling feeling against your skin eventually lowers into a dull buzz, until is dissapates entirely, you take a deep breath, the cold night air filling your lungs as you actually think about what you've just done. ---- *[[You start to dry heave, you feel sick just looking at this.|end][$ch1 to 1]] *[[You start to dry heave, you feel sick, looking at what you've done to him. You didn't mean to do this.|end][$guilt to 1, $ch1 to 2]] *[[You feel a sense of peace and unbrideled joy that you haven't felt in a long time.|end][$ch1 to 3]] *[[You don't feel much of anything. Maybe a little tired.|end][$ch1 to 4]] *[[You feel nothing. You stare at his mangled body and you feel nothing.|end][$ch1 to 5]] *[[You feel panicked and angry at yourself, What the hell did you just do!?|end][$ch1 to 6]]

<h1><center>POLICE REPORT 1</center></h1> ---- <h2><center>ST THOMAS MASSACRE</center></h2>

<h1><center>POLICE REPORT 2</center></h1> ---- <h2><center>HILL HOUSE RAID</center></h2>

<h1><center>POLICE REPORT 3</center></h1> ---- <h2><center>THE ARREST OF JOHNATHAN "JONNY" DELANEY</center></h2>

<h1><center>POLICE REPORT 4</center></h1> ---- <h2><center>DECEMBER 30TH DRUG BUST</center></h2>

<h1><center>POLICE REPORT 5</center></h1> ---- <h2><center>DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REPORT</center></h2>

<h1><center>POLICE REPORT 6</center></h1> ---- <h2><center>BREAK IN AND ASSAULT</center></h2>

<<if $achieve006 == true>> Dahlia stares after where you were just pulled deeper into the forest. Disgust roils in her stomach. She is acutely aware that her jaw has tightened, that her breathing has quickened against her will. She hates this. She shouldn't care. //Doesn't.// But she's still rooted in the spot you were taken from her. She tries to will her limbs to move, to rip through the forest as she always has, disregard everything that doesn't matter. You are a distraction. A disruption. //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// She can't help that her body untenses when the scream she hears isn't yours. She can't help the relief that floods her body, though she may deny her worry, her concern. For //you.// She shakes her head, pulling the brief, tepid smile she allowed herself behind her mask back down into a scowl. <<elseif $achieve003 == true>> Overdose tromps through the tall grass and roots. They waited too long to follow. Son of a fucking bitch. They should have pulled you back towards them. Fuck. //FUCK// It's too dark in these stupid //fucking// woods. Their breathing gets faster. More labored. They stop and press their back against a tree, not this shit again. //Not right now.// They grip the handle of their bat, the tremble in their hands lessens. They close their eyes. Breathe. //Breathe.// //Decem, nove, ocho, sept, sechs, pięć, four, tres, due, uno.// Their breath shakes as they inhale. exhale. //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// The painful buzzing in their head slows. Stops. The tension in their shoulders gradually fades. Right. You can take care of yourself, duh. You don't //need// them. No use in getting worked up over nothing. <<elseif $achieve007 == true>> Sweetheart's head snaps back to where that man had dragged you away. Should.....should he have done something? Was this an......//issue?// The feeling made him sick to his stomach. It's reminding him of things he's tried very hard to forget. Maybe he shouldn't have forgotten. Maybe this wouldn't have happened. He should have paid closer attention to where you got dragged off to, stupid, //stupid//- damn it. He's so- //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// All his thoughts stopped in that moment. His mind calm. a slow smile crept upon his face. It was okay. You seemed to be just fine. Everything was okay. He's happy for you. <<elseif $achieve005 == true>> God damn it. God //fucking// damn it. Elysium should have gone after you. It isn't like them to freeze like that, he hasn't done that since....Fuck, nevermind, that doesn't matter right now. He feels....responsible for you. They shouldn't, and they know they shouldn't. But old habits are hard to shake. His heel catches on an exposed root, he stumbles but manages to keep upright. He hates this. He hates this fucking forest and he's growing to hate this pompous fuck of a "Host". If they're as rich as they say they are, then Elysium is going to have to do some //digging// into his fellow affluent peers once he has cell service. //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// Elysium stops. That was the voice of that greasy fuck that pulled you from him. He lets out a sigh of relief, mentally scolding himself for being a worrywart for a person they barely know. They slow their pace as they walk, their air of nonchalance slotting back into place over them. <<elseif $achieve004 == true>> They hate this. Cold has never been a person who has paid much heed to others. That was purposeful. The closer you get to other people, the more liability it poses, the more prone one is to making stupid and emotionally charged desicions without regard to future consequences. And yet their hands twitch. They want to start popping their knuckles. A habit of nerves they thought they stamped out a long time ago. They feel a scowl ripping across their face as they lock their muscles, stopping themselves from following the path that man had taken you. //A horrible screech suddenly pierces the night sky// Their body immediately untenses involantarily when the scream sounds. Same voice as the man who took you. Not yours. Obviously. They disregard the hammering of their heart as they turn and continue deeper into the forest. <<elseif $achieve008 or $achieve009 or $achieve002 is true>> <<goto [[FLASHBACK]]>> <</if>> <div class='choice choicebtn'><<button "Return" "after">><</button>></div>

<<if $ch1 is 1>> <<elseif $ch1 is 2>> <<elseif $ch1 is 3>> <<elseif $ch1 is 4>> <<elseif $ch1 is 5>> <<elseif $ch1 is 6>> <</if>>

*<<link "They/them." "change2">><<set $mc_they to "they">><<set $mc_them to "them">><<set $mc_their to "their">><<set $mc_theirs to "theirs">><<set $mc_themself to "themself">><<set $mc_plural to true>><</link>> *<<link "She/her." "change2">><<set $mc_they to "she">><<set $mc_them to "her">><<set $mc_their to "her">><<set $mc_theirs to "hers">><<set $mc_themself to "herself">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>> *<<link "He/him." "change2">><<set $mc_they to "he">><<set $mc_them to "him">><<set $mc_their to "his">><<set $mc_theirs to "his">><<set $mc_themself to "himself">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>> *<<link "Xe/xem." "change2">><<set $mc_they to "xe">><<set $mc_them to "xem">><<set $mc_their to "xyr">><<set $mc_theirs to "xyrs">><<set $mc_themself to "xemself">><<set $mc_plural to false>><</link>> *<<link "Input custom ones." "custom3">><</link>> <center><<button "Resume" $return>><</button>></center>

<<gender $mc_they $mc_them $mc_their $mc_theirs $mc_themself $mc_plural>> You go by $arr_they *[[Add another pronoun|change]] <center><<button "Resume" $return>><</button>></center>

she/he/they: <<textbox "$mc_they" "they">> him/her/them: <<textbox "$mc_them" "them">> his/her/their: <<textbox "$mc_their" "their">> his/hers/theirs: <<textbox "$mc_theirs" "theirs">> himself/herself/themself: <<textbox "$mc_themself" "themself">> Plural? (is/are) Yes <<radiobutton "$mc_plural" true checked>> No <<radiobutton "$mc_plural" false>> <center><<button "Resume" $return>><</button>></center> *<<link "Back to presets" "change">><</link>>

<<if $ch1 is 1>> <<elseif $ch1 is 2>> <<elseif $ch1 is 3>> <<elseif $ch1 is 4>> <<elseif $ch1 is 5>> <<elseif $ch1 is 6>> <</if>>

<<link "settings">><<run UI.settings();>><<toggleclass "#menuLinks" "unstow">><<toggleclass "#header" "shadow">><<toggleclass "#menu" "glow">><</link>> <<link "saves">><<run UI.saves();>><<toggleclass "#menuLinks" "unstow">><<toggleclass "#menu" "glow">><<toggleclass "#header" "shadow">><</link>>  <<link "character profile">><<run Dialog.create("stats", "profile").wikiPassage("stats").open();>><<toggleclass "#menuLinks" "unstow">><<toggleclass "#header" "shadow">><<toggleclass "#menu" "glow">><</link>> <<link "notes">><<run Dialog.create("notes", "profile").wikiPassage("notes").open();>><<toggleclass "#menuLinks" "unstow">><<toggleclass "#header" "shadow">><<toggleclass "#menu" "glow">><</link>> <<link "achievements">><<run Dialog.create("achievements", "profile").wikiPassage("achievements").open();>><<toggleclass "#menuLinks" "unstow">><<toggleclass "#header" "shadow">><<toggleclass "#menu" "glow">><</link>>  <<link "restart">><<run UI.restart();>><<toggleclass "#menuLinks" "unstow">><<toggleclass "#header" "shadow">><<toggleclass "#menu" "glow">><</link>> <<link "credits">><<run Dialog.create("Credits").wikiPassage("Credits").open();>><<toggleclass "#menuLinks" "unstow">><<toggleclass "#header" "shadow">><<toggleclass "#menu" "glow">><</link>>

<center><h1>SLAUGHTER☆SQUAD</h1></center>

You stare. You're stock still. You are completely and utterly alone. He's staring. Carter's staring at //you.// He stomps over to you, grabbing your wrist, yanking. Something in your wrist //pops// and it //hurts// "You sneaky worthless piece of //shit// I know it's you. Take off that stupid fucking mask. Now." He yanks you again, pain lances up your arm. Your jaw clenches. <<cycle "$." autoselect>><<option "You try to pry your arm away, it doesn't work. The pain is blinding">><<option "You scream out, try to get Host to help, he yanks you back. It //hurts//">><<option "You don't move. You know better.">><</cycle>> *[[You're dragged away]]

<<set $achieve013 to true>><<notify 8s>>Achievement!: That's a weird fuckin' dog.<</notify>> WIP sorry!! 🙇🏾‍♂️ <center><span class="next"><<button "Go Back" "47q8">><</button>></span></center>

What pronouns do you want to remove? - ''$arr_they'' If you want to remove a set of pronouns with multiple instances, this will only delete one of them. Type, in lowercase, one of the keywords: <<textbox "$remove_pron" $mc_they>> [[Continue|change5][checkpronouns $remove_pron]] [[Cancel|change2]]

<<nobr>><<if ($remove_available)>> Are you sure you want to remove "$remove_pron" set of pronouns?<br><br> <hr> [[Confirm|change][gremove "$remove_pron"]] [[Remove a different one|change4]] <<else>>The pronoun "$remove_pron" does not exist, please try again. <br><br><<include "change4">> <</if>><</nobr>>